(8/8) Emmitsburg residents will be allowed to raise and keep chickens in backyard coops following amendments to the town animal ordinance. Under the amended Code, a maximum of six chickens can be kept in backyard pens or coops. Residents must also comply with other zoning regulations already in place.
Chickens must also be registered with the Maryland Department of Agriculture, along with a copy of the registration submitted to the town.
The ordinance, approved by the town council at the August meeting, closely mimics Fredrick County and Fredrick City's Animal Code, according to town planner Zachary Gulden. The previous one was similar to a much older version of the Frederick County Animal Code.
Chickens must be kept in a backyard lot of at least 2,500 square feet with no more than one chicken per every five hinder square feet. Chickens must be provided a covered coop at least 10 feet from any lot line
and the backyard must either be surrounded by a fence or contain a chicken run. In addition, chickens are not allowed for commercial use, and are not allowed to be slaughtered on the premises. Manure not used for composting or fertilizing must be removed within a reasonable period.
The proposed changes were made following a request by Mayor Briggs to reallow the keeping of chickens through an ordinance that expired and was not renewed in 2013.
Other approved changes in the animal ordinance include raising the fine for not cleaning up animal waste (including dogs) to $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second, and $300 for the third offense. "Right now, we can only fine $25," said Gulden. Noisy animals are also prohibited and are subject to a $100 fine, with each day a deemed a separate offense. Property owners are on an honor system, according to Gulden." As long as they're complying with the code, no citations will be issued," he said.
The final vote was 3-1, with Commissioner Frank Davis voting against the update, and Commissioner Joseph Ritz abstaining, citing a conflict of interest due to his neighbors owning chickens. Ritz said however, had he voted, he would have objected to the chicken provision, as it did not prohibit the owning of roosters, which he predicted would cause noise problems.
Davis also expressed concern that the ordinance's allowance of roosters has the potential to create a population overload and a noise nuisance if neighbors surrounding each other all acquired the maximum of six birds.
"I have nothing against animals, I love animals. I just don't think downtown Emmitsburg is the place for chickens," Davis said.
