§ 106-17. Keeping pigeons.

A. 

General regulations. It shall not constitute a violation of §§ 106-12 through 106-16 of this chapter for any person to keep, maintain, house, possess or allow to fly for exercise fancy pigeons or racing pigeons, provided that such pigeons are so kept as not to constitute a nuisance or to create a hazard to public health or in any manner which either annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers or tends to annoy, disturb, injure or endanger the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of other persons or the public and in compliance with the remaining provisions of this section.

B. 

Specific regulations.

(1) 

Fancy pigeons and racing pigeons are allowed out of the lofts or houses in which they are kept for exercise, for not longer than two hours in the forenoon of any day and for not longer than two hours after noon of any day, except when returning home from a training toss or a race.

(2) 

The lofts or houses in which such pigeons are kept must be cleaned once each day and always maintained in a sanitary condition free of refuse, debris and any other dirt or excess food.

(3) 

Pigeon refuse and pigeon feed must be stored in metal containers and securely covered with metal covers.

(4) 

There shall be at least one square foot of floor space in any loft or house in which such pigeons are kept for each such pigeon kept therein, but in no event shall any person keep, maintain, house or possess more than 100 pigeons on any premises.

(5) 

Said lofts or houses shall be suitably screened from the view of surrounding residences and surrounding streets by a fence or by shrubs, unless said loft or house is located in such a manner as not to be visible from the surrounding residences and surrounding streets.

(6) 

In no event shall said loft or house be located less than four feet from any lot line.

C. 

Permit required.

(1) 

Any person housing or harboring pigeons must obtain a permit from the Town Clerk. No permit shall be issued to any person convicted of a violation of this section. With all applications for permits, the applicant must supply the following:

(a) 

A statement that the applicant has not been convicted of a violation of this section.

(b) 

A survey or diagram showing the proposed location of said loft or house and its distance from said surrounding residences and property lines.

(2) 

Said permit must be renewed annually. The fee for said permit and each renewal thereof shall be $35.

(3) 

If any person is convicted of a violation of this section, said permit shall be revoked.

(4) 

Any person housing or harboring pigeons on the effective date of this section must obtain a permit pursuant to this section. If the location of said loft or house fails to meet the requirements of this section, it may be maintained as a nonconforming use. However, all other requirements of this section must be met. In the event that a nonconforming loft is enlarged or rebuilt after being substantially destroyed, said renovated or enlarged loft must meet all requirements of this section.

D. 

Violations. Failure to comply with any provision of Subsection A, B or C of § 106-17 shall constitute a violation. Penalties for violations shall be governed by Article II, § 1-15.

Amended 9-2-2003 by L.L. No. 16-2003