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## Town of Rimbey
## Bylaw 973/21
A BYLAW OF THE TOWN OF RIMBEY, IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA TO PROVIDE FOR THE REGULATIONS FOR THE CONTROL URBAN HENS IN THE TOWN.
## WHEREAS
A Council of a Municipality may, pursuant to the Municipal Government Act, Chapter M-26, R.S.A. 2000, pass bylaws for the purpose of regulating and controlling domestic animals and activities in relation to them and to provide for the imposition of a fine and or imprisonment due to contravention of said bylaw; and
## WHEREAS
The Council of the Town of Rimbey deems it necessary and expedient to pass a bylaw for the purpose of regulating and controlling urban hens within the corporate boundaries of the Town of Rimbey;
NOW THEREFORE, THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF RIMBEY, DULY ASSEMBLED, ENACTS AS FOLLOWS:
## PART ONE - TITLE
1. This bylaw may be cited as the "Urban Hen Bylaw"
## PART TWO - DEFINITIONS
2. In this bylaw, unless the context otherwise requires, the word, term, or expressions:
- a) "Abattoir" means a facility where animals are slaughtered for consumption as food for humans.
- b) "Animal Control Officer" means a person or firm engaged by the Town to administer and/or enforce the provisions of the bylaw.
- c) "Coop" means a fully enclosed, weather-proof structure, and attached outdoor enclosure used for the keeping of Urban Hens.
- d) "Chief Administrative Officer" means a person appointed as the Chief Administrative Officer of the Town of Rimbey or designate.
- e) "Council" means the Council of the Town of Rimbey.
- f) "Communicable Disease" means any disease or illness that may be transferred from an Animal to another Animal, or a human through direct or indirect contact.
- g) "Hen" means a domesticated female chicken.
- h) "Hen House" means an enclosed structure that houses Urban Hens at night and includes a secure place for Urban Hens to lay eggs and eat.
- i) "Hen Tractor" means a movable chicken coop lacking a floor.
- j) "Licensee" means a Person named on an Urban Hen License.
12. "Municipal Tag" means a document alleging an offence issued pursuant to the authority of a Bylaw of the Town.
- 1) Mounted Police.
- m) "Outdoor Enclosure (urban hen run)" means a securely enclosed, roofed outdoor area attached to, and forming, part of a Coop having a bare earth or vegetated floor for Urban Hens to roam.
- n) "Owner" includes any one or more Persons who:
- i) Is named on an Urban Hen License; or
17. ii) A person who owns or claims any proprietary interest in an Urban Hen; or
18. ili) A person who has care, charge, custody, possession, or control of the Urban Hen, either temporarily or permanently; or
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## Town of Rimbey
## Bylaw 973/21
A BYLAW OF THE TOWN OF RIMBEY, IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA TO PROVIDE FOR THE REGULATIONS FOR THE CONTROL URBAN HENS IN THE TOWN.
- iv) A person who harbors an Urban Hen, or allows an Urban Hen to remain, on his/her property
- o) "Owner's Property" means any premises which are owned or leased by the Owner.
- p) "Premises" means any dwelling, building, and any parcel or lot of real property or a portion thereof.
- q) "Rooster" means a domesticated male chicken.
- r) "Running at Large" means an Urban Hen being outside of the owner's property.
- s) "Town" means the municipal corporation of the Town of Rimbey, or the area contained within the boundary thereof, as the context requires, means the area of land within the corporate boundaries.
- 4) "Urban Hen" means a hen that is at least 16 weeks of age.
- t) "Town Office" means the Chief Administrative Officer, or any other staff member authorized to carry out their duties.
- v) "Urban Hen License" means a license issued by the Town of Rimbey pursuant to the Urban Hen Bylaw, which authorizes the License holder to keep Urban Hens on specific property within the Town of Rimbey.
- w) "Violation Ticket" has the same meaning as the Provincial Offences Procedure
- x) "Urban Area" means land located within the Town of Rimbey legal boundaries.
## PART THREE - PURPOSE
3. The purpose of this bylaw is to regulate and control the keeping of Urban Hens within the urban areas of the Town of Rimbey.
## PART FOUR - REGULATIONS
- 4.1 A person may apply to keep no more than five (5) Urban Hens on a single property.
- 4.2 The owner must be 18 years of age or older.
- 4.3 Urban Hens kept on the property are for personal use only.
- 4.4 No person shall be permitted to:
- a) keep a rooster
- b) keep a hen, other than an Urban Hen for which a valid Urban Hen License has been issued by the Town of Rimbey;
- c) sell eggs, meat, manure, and other products associated with the keeping of Urban Hens;
- d) slaughter Urban Hens on the property;
- 4.5 Any deceased Urban Hens shall be disposed of by delivering it to a farm, Abattoir, veterinarian, or other operation that is lawfully permitted to dispose of such.
- 4.6 A tenant must obtain written permission from the registered property Owner to keep Urban Hens on the owner's property. Any Owner of Urban Hens must reside on the property where the Urban Hens are kept.
## PART FIVE - URBAN HEN COOP AND RUN REQUIRMENTS
- 5.1 No person shall keep an Urban Hen or Urban Hens, on a parcel in a single-family residential zone, having an area less than 464.52 sq. metres (5,000 ft2).
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## Town of Rimbey
## Bylaw 973/21
A BYLAW OF THE TOWN OF RIMBEY, IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA TO PROVIDE FOR THE REGULATIONS FOR THE CONTROL URBAN HENS IN THE TOWN.
- 5.2 Every building (coop) or enclosure used to accommodate Urban Hens must be:
- 5.2.1 located in the rear yard of the lot behind the dwelling;
- a minimum of 3.0 metres (9.8 ft) from the principle dwelling;
- b) a minimum of 1.0 metre (3.3. ft) from any property line;
- c) a maximum of 10 sq. metres (107.6 sq. ft) in size;
- d) a maximum of 2.5 metres (8 ft) in height;
- 5.3 The Owner shall ensure Urban Hen coops, Urban Hen houses, and Urban Hen runs are properly maintained in a clean condition to prevent negative impacts. Including, but not limited to, attacking nuisance animals, the spread of food over the property, and obnoxious odors, or noise.
- 5.4 The Owner must ensure the coop and outdoor enclosure are secured from sunset to sunrise.
- 5.5 Hen Tractors may be used to move urban hens to new areas for foraging during daylight hours.
## PART 6 - RESPONSIBILITIES OF HEN OWNERS
- 6.1 The Owner of an Urban Hen(s) shall:
- a) ensure the rear yard is securely fenced;
- b) ensure the coop is insulated and well ventilated;
- c) ensure that the Urban Hen is not running-at-large;
- d) ensure food is stored in such a way as to discourage predators;
- e) ensure manure is stored in an enclosed container and disposed of, as per health regulations;
- f) keep a food container and water container in the Coop;
- g) remove leftover feed, trash, and manure within 48 hours;
- h) store feed within a fully enclosed container;
- i) not keep an Urban Hen in a cage, kennel, or any other form of shelter other than a Coop or approved Hen Tractor;
- j) not sell eggs, meat, manure, or other products derived from Urban Hens;
- k) not slaughter an Urban Hen on the property;
- 1) dispose of an Urban Hen except by delivering it to a farm, Abattoir, veterinarian, or other operation that is lawfully permitted to dispose of Urban Hens;
- m) follow biosecurity procedures recommended by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to reduce potential for disease outbreak;
## PART SEVEN - LICENSING
- 7.1 A person may not keep an Urban Hen unless that person first submits a completed Urban Hen Registration Application to the Town and receives validation of registration from the Town.
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7.3
## Town of Rimbey
## Bylaw 973/21
A BYLAW OF THE TOWN OF RIMBEY, IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA TO PROVIDE FOR THE REGULATIONS FOR THE CONTROL URBAN HENS IN THE TOWN.
- 7.2 The Town may not validate an Urban Hen registration application form unless the following has been satisfied:
- a) The initial permit has been reviewed by the planning and development department to ensure compliance with the required regulations and guidelines, of which the applicant of the Urban Hen registration application form will be contacted within 21 days upon reception of the completed application;
- b) the applicant is the owner of the property and resides on the property on which the Urban Hens will be kept, or the applicant resides on the lot and has written consent from the registered owner of the property to allow Urban Hens to be kept on the property;
- c) the applicant has a valid Alberta Poultry Premises Identification (PID) number obtained from Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, and a copy is provided to the Town;
- d) all other required information on the Town's Urban Hen License application form has been provided including payment.
A person may apply to keep up to five (5) Urban Hens by:
- a) Applying for an annual Urban Hen License from the Town Office during regular business hours: and
- b) Paying an annual $50.00 Urban Hen License fee, which is due and payable prior to January 31 of each subsequent year.
- c) Urban Hen Licenses fees shall not be reduced or prorated regardless of the month of purchase.
- d) Urban Hen License fees that have been paid shall not be refunded or rebated.
5. Upon payment of the Urban Hen License fee by the owner, the Town Office shall issue to the Owner a certificate of licensing.
6. 7.5 A validated Urban Hen License is not transferable from one person to another or from one property to another.
7. 7.6 A person to whom an Urban Hen License has been issued shall produce the license at the demand of the Officer, Chief Administrative Officer or Designate.
8. 7.7 The maximum number of Urban Hen Licenses that may be issued in the Town shall be one (1) Urban Hen License per one hundred (100) persons, based on the population of the Town of Rimbey, as determined in the most recent census.
## PART EIGHT - PENALTIES
- No person shall wilfully obstruct, hinder, or interfere with an Animal Control Officer or any other person authorized to enforce and engage in the enforcement of the provisions of this Bylaw.
- A person who contravenes any provision of this bylaw is guilty of an offence.
- 8.3 A person who is guilty of a first offense is liable to a fine of two hundred ($200.00) dollars.
- 8.4 A person who is guilty of a second offense is liable to a fine of four hundred ($400.00) dollars.
- 8.5 Where a person has been found to have contravened the Bylaw two (2) or more times within one twelve (12) month period, the Town reserves the right to revoke the Urban Hen License.
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## Town of Rimbey
Bylaw 973/21
A BYLAW OF THE TOWN OF RIMBEY, IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA TO PROVIDE FOR THE REGULATIONS FOR THE CONTROL URBAN HENS IN THE TOWN.
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## PART NINE - SEVERABILITY CLAUSE
- 9.1 Every provision of this Bylaw is independent of all other provisions and if any provision of this Bylaw is declared invalid for any reason by a court of competent jurisdiction, all other provisions of this Bylaw shall remain valid and enforceable.
## PART TEN - COMMENCEMENT
- 10.1 This Bylaw shall take effect on the date of the third and final reading.
- 10.2 Bylaws 094/42 is hereby repealed.
READ a first time this
12th
\_ day of January, 2021.
MAYOR RICK PANKIW
Lori Heis
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER LORI HILLIS
READ a second time this 12'h day of\_ October, 2022.
MAYOR RICK PANKIW
Pore Dislis
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER LORI HILLIS
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## Town of Rimbey
Bylaw 973/21
A BYLAW OF THE TOWN OF RIMBEY, IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA TO PROVIDE FOR THE REGULATIONS FOR THE CONTROL URBAN HENS IN THE TOWN.
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READ a third and final time this 12th day of - October 2022.
MAYOR RICK PANKIW
Lose Nuis
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER LORI HILLIS