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Village staff present animal-control code changes; licensed falconer urges exception for raptors
Summary
Staff presented a proposed text amendment to the village's animal-control code that would reinstate limits on dogs and cats, revise residential chicken-keeping rules and clarify permitted animals. A licensed falconer asked the board to exempt licensed falconry from the proposed changes and cited federal and state regulations governing falconry.
A staff member presented a proposed post-text amendment to the animal-control section of the Sugar Grove municipal code and asked the village board for feedback on limits for animals at large, residential poultry keeping and other animal-related rules.
The proposal was prompted by a resident complaint about a dead cat and by staff's discovery that older language limiting the number of dogs and cats appears to have been dropped in a prior code conversion. The staff member said the village cannot locate the prior ordinance language online and is proposing to bring limits back into the code; staff also sought clearer standards for residential chicken keeping and other permitted animals.
A resident who identified himself as a licensed falconer addressed the board during public comment and asked that falconry be exempted from the proposed amendment. He said he has held a state permit (F25028) and a federal permit (A00346) since 2003 and described falconry as "very, very heavily regulated." He told the board, "The proposed amendment to the animal control would basically abolish the art falconry in Sugar Grove, and I don't think that's necessary." He referenced state regulations (Title 17, chapter 1, part 1590) and the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act as existing oversight for raptor ownership and care, and asked the board to add an exception for raptors possessed by licensed falconers.
On chickens, staff said the village's existing permitting language requires 10 square feet of space per hen; staff said that standard produced many resident complaints and seemed large compared with other municipalities. The staff member said staff consulted outside sources, including a county farm bureau and local farms, while drafting revisions. The staff member asked for the board's guidance on whether to limit the proposed rules geographically (for example, only in residential subdivisions) or by lot size.
Staff framed the item as a draft text amendment to solicit board direction, edits and language changes; no formal vote or ordinance adoption was recorded in the supplied transcript. The staff member said the intent is to clarify permitted animals and enforcement options, and to reinsert any previously intended numerical limits that were lost during an earlier code migration.
The board did not issue final direction during the excerpt provided; staff asked board members for suggested language changes and for direction on enforcement and geographic scope.
