Urban Chickens - PERMIT REQUIRED

The City recognizes that the ability to cultivate one's own food is a sustainable activity that can also be a rewarding pastime. Therefore, it is the purpose and intent of this ordinance to permit the keeping and maintenance of chicken hens for residential egg production by permit. The chicken MUST be kept in a clean and sanitary manner that is not a nuisance to or detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare of the community. The keeping of other poultry is prohibited.

A permit is required for any person seeking to keep urban chickens in the City of Cannon Falls as allowed by this section. Coops and runs under this section will be exempt from and not counted towards the limits of detached accessory building as provided by § 152.236 of the City Code of Ordinances. An applicant must complete an application form provided by the city. Any amendment to an existing permit shall constitute a new application fee.

Please read City Code Section 94.33 Urban Chickens Permit Required and complete the Urban Chickens Application and submit to City Hall.

Information REQUIRED to apply:

• Written, dated and signed application from 100% of the owners of the property applying.
• Attesting to meet the requirements that the property is an owner-occupied single-family dwelling located within a residential district that allows single family dwellings as permitted use.
• A scaled drawing (site plan) showing the location, size and dimensions of all structures (coops, runs, and the like) and containment area for the urban chicken(s), including the distance of all structures and containment areas from the property lines and adjoining and neighboring structures.
• The number of chickens to be kept on site; six maximum.
• Detailed feces and waste management plan.
• An agreement by the applicant that the premises may be inspected by the city at any reasonable time to ensure compliance with all applicant conditions.

Fees:

• Application and Site Plan Review (first year only, unless revoked): $20.00
• Permit Fee: $5.00 – per chicken/year

Important Information- Not Exclusive – Must Read 94.33 for all necessary permit conditions.

• No person may keep a rooster or crowing hen.
• Chicken coops and runs shall not be in the front or side yard. The chicken coop and run must be located in the rear yard.
•  Any chicken coop or run shall be set back at least ten feet from the property line and 50 feet from the principle structure on any adjacent lots, as measured in all directions. Measurement shall be a straight line distance between the closest points on each structure.
•  Chickens must be secured in a chicken coop from sunset to sunrise each day.
•  No person may keep more than six hens at one time.
• The sale of eggs from the permitted residence is strictly prohibited.