Sec. 10-97. - Fowl, chickens and other domestic birds.
(a) Definitions. Fowl is defined as any various domestic birds by way of example but not limited to: Chickens, roosters, ducks, geese, turkeys, guinea fowl, emus, rheas, ostriches and pigeons.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, permit or allow any domesticated fowl within the corporate limits of the town, or to allow any domesticated fowl to run at large within the corporate limits of the town, except as specifically permitted below.
(c) It shall only be lawful for a person to keep, permit or allow chickens within the corporate limits of the town on residential property only, under the following terms and conditions:
(1) No more than six chicken hens shall be allowed for each single-family dwelling, with roosters prohibited. No chickens shall be allowed on townhouse, duplex, apartment or manufactured housing park properties.
(2) Chicken hens allowed under this section shall only be raised for domestic purposes and no commercial use such as selling eggs or selling chickens for meat shall be allowed. There shall be no outside slaughtering of chickens.
(3) Each single-family dwelling shall contain at a minimum an acre (43,560 square feet) of land.
(4) Chicken hens shall be kept in an enclosed secure movable/portable pen/chicken tractor, stationary pen or a fenced enclosure (henhouse/coop) that contains at a minimum four square feet per bird. The size of the enclosed portable and/or stationary henhouse/coop shall not exceed 64 square feet in area. Birds shall not be allowed to roam free.
(5) The materials used in making a henhouse/coop or chicken tractor shall be uniform for each element of the structure such that the walls are made of the same material, the roof has the same shingles or other covering, and any windows or openings are constructed using the same materials. The use of scrap, waste board, sheet metal, or similar materials is prohibited. Henhouses and chicken tractors shall be well maintained.
(6) All enclosed permanent henhouses/coops must be at least 25 feet from the adjoining property lines and no closer than 50 feet from any adjacent residential dwelling or to any other building used for residential purposes, other than that of the owner of the chicken hens. All enclosed permanent henhouses/coops shall not be located in the front yard, required street side yard, required side yard, nor shall be located in any drainage area that would allow fecal matter to enter any storm drainage system or stream.
(7) Secure movable/portable henhouses/coops and chicken tractors must be located at least 20 feet from the adjoining property line and no closer than 25 feet from any adjacent residential dwelling or to any other building used for residential purposes, other than that of the owner of the chicken hens.
(8) All enclosures for the keeping of chicken hens shall be constructed and maintained as to prevent rodents or other pests from being harbored underneath, inside, or within the walls of the enclosure. The henhouse/coop must be impermeable to rodents, wild birds, and predators, including dogs and cats. All enclosed pens must be kept dry, well-ventilated, and in sanitary condition at all times, and must be cleaned on a regular basis to prevent offensive odors. All manure not used for composting or fertilizing shall be removed promptly. Odors from chickens, chicken manure, or other chicken-related substances shall not be detectable at the property boundaries.
(9) No dog or cat that kills a chicken hen will, for that reason alone, be considered a dangerous or aggressive animal.
(10) Adequate shelter, care and control of the chicken hens are required. Any person allowed to keep chicken hens under this section shall comply with all of the provisions and definitions of the Code of Ordinances regarding care, shelter, sanitation, health, rodent control, cruelty, neglect, noise, reasonable control and any other requirements pertaining to the adequate care and control of animals in the town.
(11) The chicken hen owner shall take necessary action to reduce the attraction of predators and rodents and the potential infestation of insects and parasites. Chicken hens found to be infested with insects and parasites that may result in unhealthy conditions to human habitation may be removed by an animal control officer.
(12) All feed or other material intended for consumption by the chickens shall be kept in containers impenetrable by rats or other rodents, and such container shall be equipped with tightly fitting caps or lids. All feeding shall be conducted in a manner as to prevent unconsumed food from being accessible to other animals or rodents. The presence of rodents in an area used for the keeping of chickens shall be prima facie evidence that such area is maintained in violation of this section.
(13) Chicken litter and waste shall not be deposited in any trash container that is collected by any public and shall be disposed of by eit

York County Ordinance regarding chickens:

ZONING


ARTICLE IV. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR USES

DIVISION 2. AGRICULTURE, ANIMAL KEEPING AND RELATED USES
(CATEGORY 2)

Sec. 24.1-414.1 Standards for domestic chicken-keeping as an accessory activity on residential property.

Keeping and housing domestic chickens on residentially-zoned and occupied property in the R20, R13 and WCI Districts shall be solely for purposes of household consumption and shall be permitted only in accordance with the following terms and conditions. These provisions shall not be construed to allow the keeping of game birds, ducks, geese, pheasants, guinea fowl, or similar fowl/poultry.

(a) Chickens allowed pursuant to this section shall be kept and raised only for domestic purposes and no commercial activity such as selling eggs or selling chickens for meat shall be allowed unless authorized as a home occupation through the issuance of a special use permit by the board of supervisors pursuant to the terms of Section 24.1-283(b) of this chapter.

(b) The maximum number of chickens permitted on a residential lot shall be one (1) hen per 2,500 square feet of lot area, not to exceed a maximum of sixteen (16) hens.

(c) No chickens shall be allowed on townhouse, duplex, condominium, apartment or manufactured housing park properties.

(d) No roosters shall be allowed.

(e) Pens, coops, or cages shall not be located in any front or side yard area.

(f) All pens, coops, or cages shall be situated at least ten (10) feet from adjoining property lines and twenty-five (25) feet from any dwelling located on a property not owned by the applicant. Pens, coops, or cages shall not be located in a storm drainage area that would allow fecal matter to enter any storm drainage system or stream.

(g) All chickens shall be provided with a covered, predator-proof shelter that is thoroughly ventilated, provides adequate sun and shade and protection from the elements, is designed to be easily accessed and cleaned. Such structures shall be enclosed on all sides and shall have a roof and at least one access door. Coops shall provide adequate space for free movement and a healthy environment for birds.

(h) All pens, coops, or cages shall be kept in a neat and sanitary condition at all times, and must be cleaned on a regular basis so as to prevent odors perceptible at the property boundaries. All feed for the chickens shall be kept in a secure container or location to prevent the attraction of rodents and other animals.

(i) No person shall store, stockpile or permit any accumulation of chicken litter and waste in any manner whatsoever that, due to odor, attraction of flies or other pests, or for any other reason diminishes the rights of adjacent property owners to enjoy reasonable use of their property. .

(j) In the case of proposals for backyard chicken-keeping in the R20, R13 and WCI Districts, the property owner must file an application with the Division of Development and Compliance, Department of Environmental and Development Services, on such forms as the Division provides. Such application shall be accompanied by a $15.00 processing fee. The application shall include a sketch showing the area where the chickens will be housed and the types and size of enclosures in which the chickens shall be housed. The sketch must show all dimensions and setbacks. Upon review and determination that the proposed chicken-keeping complies with the standards set forth above, the Division of Development and Compliance shall issue a permit to document that the proposed activity has been reviewed and is authorized pursuant to the terms of this chapter. Accessory residential chicken-keeping operations shall be subject to periodic inspection to assure compliance with the performance standards established in this section.

(k) Proposals for keeping more chickens than allowed by subsection (b) above, for observing setbacks of a lesser dimension than any of those set forth above, or for keeping roosters, may be considered and approved by Special Use Permit in accordance with all applicable procedural requirements.

(Ord. No. 11-15(R), 11/16/11)

Sec. 14-9. - Fowl to be kept in confinement.
Every owner of fowl of any description shall confine them so as to prevent their straying to the premises of others.
(Code 1964, § 3-6)
Sec. 14-10. - Proximity of game cocks, game chickens to occupied dwelling.
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep game cocks or game chickens within 150 feet of an occupied dwelling. Any person violating this section shall be guilty of a class 4 misdemeanor.
(Code 1964, § 3-6.1)