Keeping of Animals

Legal Notice:  While every attempt has been made to be as accurate as possible, the material found on these pages represents an unofficial copy of the Dingman Township Ordinance.  When in conflict, the original signed official documents kept in the Township Building shall prevail.  Persons relying on this version shall do so at their own risk.

Copies of this ordinance may also be obtained through the Dingman Township Office.

ORDINANCE # 41

 AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING REGULATIONS FOR THE KEEPING OF CERTAIN ANIMALS WITHIN DINGMAN TOWNSHIP AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR THE VIOLATION THEREOF.

 Section 1            Purpose

 The purpose of this ordinance is to provide basic minimum standards for the keeping of horses and chickens;  to minimize the adverse effects of the keeping of horses and chickens on persons and to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Dingman Township. This Ordinance does not apply to farms operating under the Pennsylvania-Right-Farm Act.

 Section 2            Definitions

 As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

Chicken - A member of the species Gallus domesticus.

Chicken Coop - A structure designed to house and provide nesting areas for chickens.

Chicken Pen - An area surrounding the chicken coop that is enclosed by fencing designed to allow chickens freedom of movement in an outdoor area.

Domestic Poultry - Any species of domesticated fowl including, but not limited to' chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, guinea fowl, peafowl etc.

 Horse – any animal belonging to the biological order of Equus caballus.

Stable – A building or structure of durable construction, permanently affixed to the ground used for the boarding, sheltering or housing of horses.  This term shall specifically exclude shipping containers or crates, truck bodies, vans or similar nonpermanent enclosures.

Section 3            Permit Requirements

 No person shall board, shelter or house horses or chickens in Dingman Township without first obtaining from the Zoning Officer a permit therefore, as required by the Dingman Township Zoning Ordinance.

 Section 4            Regulatory Standards

 In the keeping and housing of horses, the following regulations regarding the same shall be followed:

 A.                No horse shall be kept or maintained in Dingman Township unless such animal(s) has a stable for its shelter.

 C.                Stables used for the housing of horses shall be well ventilated and provided with natural or artificial light and be properly waterproofed to prevent the leakage of water.

 D.                All structures used for the keeping or maintaining of horses, whether they be used for shelter, storage of feed, supplies, equipment or any other related purpose, shall conform to the standards contained in the Building Code. 

E.                All stables and accessory buildings shall be fogged or sprayed at least once a week with insecticides which are designed to kill flies and rodents.

 F.                 All stables shall have a sufficient supply of water for cleaning and flushing purposes.  All stables, accessory buildings and corrals shall be cleaned of all manure, feculent matter and waste at least once daily.

G.                All manure, feculent matter and waste must be placed in an appropriate storage area so that flies, insects or rodents cannot have immediate access to the contents thereof and that noxious odors do not emanate therefrom.  Each such area shall be fully cleaned at least every six (6) months.  No such area shall be within twenty (20) feet of any adjoining dwelling or 100 feet of any property line.

Section 4-A          Regulatory Standards for the Keeping of Chickens

A. Only female chickens (hens) may be kept under this Ordinance.  Male chickens (roosters) and neutered males (capons) are prohibited.

B.   It shall be unlawful for the owner or owners of any chicken to allow the same to run at large upon any public or private property in the Township.  Any chicken not contained within a chicken pen shall be deemed "at large".

C.   Sanitary Requirements.  All owners of chickens within the limits of the Township are hereby required to house the same at all times under sanitary conditions so that the keeping of said chickens shall not become a public or private nuisance.

1.  All chicken feces accumulated on private property shall be removed by using the approved sanitary method of double bagging and placing same in the trash for collection unless composted on the same property as described herein or spread on a bona fide farm where the manure is being used as fertilizer under normal farming practices and as approved in an approved manure management plan.

2.  Chicken feces on private property shall not be allowed to accumulate to the degree that it becomes a public health nuisance or hazard.  In cases where chicken feces do accumulate on private property the appropriate designee of the Township may conduct an investigation, after which the accumulation may be declared a public hazard or nuisance and the owner shall be ordered to remove and dispose of the accumulated feces in an approved manner.  The order to remove such accumulated feces may be given personally to the owner or may be sent by registered mail and the owner shall be given a period of 48 hours from the date and time of receipt of the order to clean the property and remove the accumulated feces.

3. In addition to the above, any property owner desiring to keep chickens must file and receive approval of a manure management plan by the Pike County Conservation District.

D.   Composting.  It shall be unlawful for any person to spread or cause to spread or deposit upon any ground or premises within the Township any chicken manure except for bona fide farming operations where the manure is being used as fertilizer under normal farming practices.  However, chicken manure may be composted on the property where the chickens are houses and the composted material then applied to gardens or yards.  No such compost pile shall be placed within 50 feet of any water well, stream, or pond, nor within 100 feet of any established residence not on the subject property nor any water well.

E.   No person shall slaughter any chicken in the Township except for home use. Home use being for the home where the chickens are kept.

F.   All feed, water and other items associated with the keeping of chickens shall be protected in a way that prevents infestation by rats, mice or other rodents or vectors.  Failure to keep all feed, water and other items associated with the keeping of chickens in a clean and sanitary condition shall constitute a violation of this ordinance. 

Section 4-B        Keeping of Other Domestic Poultry

The keeping of domestic poultry other than chickens is prohibited.

Section 5            Public Nuisances

 In accordance with the purposes set forth in the introductory clauses, violation of Section 4 of this chapter, either in whole or in part, will be deemed to constitute a condition that endangers the health, safety and welfare of the public and is hereby declared to be a public nuisance.  Such nuisance is subject to abatement at the expense of the owner.

 Section 6            Number of Horses

 The provisions of this chapter as set forth in the previous sections shall not be interpreted to enlarge the number of horses housed within Dingman Township, but such number shall be limited in accordance with the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance, as amended.

 Section 7            Enforcement Officers 

The Code Enforcement Officer is hereby designated as the officer charged with the enforcement of this chapter.

 Section 8            Responsibility of Owners and Controllers

 It shall be unlawful for any person who owns or controls property within Dingman Township to permit a violation of the provisions of this chapter thereon, and any such person who permits a violation on property owned or controlled by him shall be responsible for such violation.

Section 9     

Any person, partnership or corporation who or which shall violate or permit to be violated the provisions of this ordinance shall, upon being found guilty therefore in a proceeding brought by the Township before a District Justice, pay a fine of not more than one thousand ($ 1000.00) dollars plus all court costs, including reasonable attorneys fees incurred by a municipality as a result thereof.  No fine shall commence or be imposed, levied or be payable until the date of determination of the violation by a district justice.  Each day that a violation is continued shall constitute a separate offense, unless the district justice that determines that a violation has occurred further shall determine that there was a good faith basis for the defendant to have believed that there was no such violation, in which event there shall be deemed to have been only one such violation until the fifth day following the date of the determination by such district justice and thereafter every day shall constitute a separate offense.  All fines and costs collected for the violation of this ordinance shall be paid over to the Township Supervisors.

In case of any violation of this ordinance the Township Supervisors or, with the approval of the Township Supervisors, an officer of the Township, in addition to other remedies, may institute in the name of the Township any appropriate action or proceeding to prevent, restrain, correct, or abate such violation.

 NOTE:        Also see Section 412 of the Dingman Township Zoning Ordinance for additional animal related regulations.