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Chardon council adopts ordinance tightening animal and fowl rules, adds livestock definition
Summary
After a public hearing with no public speakers, Chardon City Council adopted zoning and nuisance-code amendments that expand the definition of animals prohibited as nuisances, add beekeeping regulations, and add a livestock definition and location rules for animal housing structures.
Chardon
Chardon City Council adopted Ordinance 3332 on final reading to amend code sections governing animals and fowl, codified as changes to §505.08 (nuisance conditions) and planning and zoning sections 1103.03 and 1133.11. The ordinance adds a new definition of "livestock," updates nuisance standards for animals (including a 50-foot proximity/noisome-odor threshold referenced in §505.08), and spells out where animal housing and beehives may be located on residential property.
The changes grew from planning commission and legislative committee work with the community development administrator and the law director, the law director told council during the public hearing and review session. The law director said the revised nuisance provision expands the category of animals that may be prohibited if they create noxious odors or other nuisance conditions within 50 feet of a dwelling, and also establishes rules governing bees and how beehives may be harbored inside the city.
The planning and zoning revisions add distinct land-use terms for animal housing, runs, livestock structures and beehives and specify permissible locations on a property (for example, front- or rear-yard limitations and related prohibitions). The law director and staff emphasized that nuisance rules (how animals are kept) are separate from land-use permissions (which zoning districts allow particular uses); several council members asked for clarification that a large-lot livestock use would still require the appropriate zoning (for example, a five-acre minimum noted in the zoning code for some livestock uses).
Council took no public testimony at the hearing (an audience exchange briefly clarified the meaning of "jack" and "jennet") and moved during new business to adopt the announcement of decision and proceed with the ordinance readings. The ordinance passed on final reading by roll-call vote with all members voting yes as recorded on the meeting minutes.
What happens next
Following adoption, staff will number and publish the ordinance; its enforcement will follow the city's usual code-enforcement and nuisance-abatement processes. The law director and planning staff said they will continue outreach to clarify what types of animals and structures will be allowed in each zoning district and how the new nuisance measurements will be applied.
Authorities and documents referenced
The ordinance amends city codified ordinances §505.08 and planning/zoning sections 1103.03 and 1133.11; the ordinance number enacted is 3332.
