CITY OF COON RAPIDS, MINNESOTA
CHAPTER 6-500
NON-DOMESTIC ANIMALS

6-501 Application. This Chapter shall apply to all animals both domestic and non-domestic, except dogs and cats which are regulated by City Code Chapter 6-100, 6-200, and 6-400; and horses and mules which are regulated by City Code Chapter 6-300.

6-502 Definitions. For purposes of this Chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

(1) Domestic animals means any living creature generally referred to as domestic pets and which are maintained within the residence and within a cage, including, but not limited to, birds, hamsters, chinchillas, lizards, snakes, etc.
(2) Non-domestic animals means all other living creatures.

6-503 Confinement of Domestic Animals. Domestic animals shall not be permitted to move at large off the owner’s premises. Any domestic animal found in violation of this Section may be impounded by the Animal Control Officer and after being so impounded for five (5) days or more without being redeemed, may be destroyed or otherwise humanely disposed of. Any persons reclaiming any such impounded animal shall pay the costs of impounding and keeping the same. At the time of impounding, the Animal Control Officer shall notify the owner, if known, by telephone or personal contact and by written notice to his or her last known address. If the owner is unknown, written notice containing a description of the animal shall be posted at the pound and at City Hall. The notice shall advise the owner that he or she has five (5) regular business days to claim the animal. “Regular business day” means any day during which the pound is open to the public not less than four (4) consecutive hours between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

6-504 Nuisance. Except as provided in Sections 6-509 and 6-510 the keeping, maintaining, or harboring of one (1) or more non-domestic animals on any premises of less than five (5) acres is hereby declared to be a nuisance.

6-505 Keeping of Non-domestic Animals. Non-domestic animals may be kept, maintained, or harbored on premises five (5) acres or larger in size. Such animals shall be contained within the property by adequate fencing or other type of enclosure. No animal shall be contained upon such property within a distance of 350 feet of any residential structure, except the residence of the owner or keeper of the animal. The premises shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary manner, devoid of rodents and vermin and free from objectionable odors. No waste material from such animal shall be deposited or left upon any public property, nor private property not owned by the owner or keeper of the animal, nor within 350 feet of any residential structure unless such waste is immediately covered with at least four (4) inches of dirt.

6-506 Non-domestic Animals at Large. No person who owns, keeps, maintains, or harbors a non-domestic animal shall permit the same to leave the enclosure unless accompanied by and under the control of the owner or keeper. Any animal shall be deemed to be at large when it is outside of its enclosure and not accompanied by the owner, keeper, or their agent, except any non-domestic animal trained to return to its owner’s premises shall be considered under its owner’s control when released away from the owner’s premises and flying thereto in the most direct route.

6-507 Impounding of Non-domestic Animals. Any non-domestic animal kept in violation of this Chapter may be impounded by the Animal Control Officer and after being so impounded for five (5) days or more without being redeemed, may be destroyed or otherwise humanely disposed of. Any person reclaiming any such impounded animal shall pay the costs of impounding and keeping the same. At the time of impounding, the Animal Control Officer shall notify the owner, if known, by telephone or personal contact and by written notice to his or her last known address. If the owner is unknown, written notice containing a description of the animal shall be posted at the pound and at City Hall. The notice shall advise the owner that he or she has five (5) regular business days to claim the animal. Regular business day means any day during which the pound is open to the public not less than four (4) consecutive hours between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

6-508 Violation. Each day’s violation of the provisions of this Chapter shall constitute a separate offense and shall be punishable as such hereunder.

6-509 Permits. The City Council may grant permits for the keeping of non-domestic animals for use in connection with an educational display thereof provided that the Council finds that such animals are not likely to be dangerous, that they will be kept in safe and sanitary surroundings, that they will not be maintained in an inhumane manner or be subjected to any inhumane treatment, and that their presence on the premises will not be a source of nuisance or annoyance to the occupants of adjacent property. In granting such permit, the Council may impose limitations on the permit to ensure that such animals will be kept under such conditions. It will be unlawful for any person having such a permit to keep such animals without maintaining such conditions or without abiding by the limitations imposed by the City Council. Any such permit shall be subject to immediate suspension by the Chief Building Official if he determines that the animals are being kept in a manner which violates the terms of the permit. Such suspension shall remain in effect until the next subsequent meeting of the City Council. At such meeting the City Council may revoke such permit or may reinstate the same subject to such limitations as the Council shall deem necessary.

Applications for permits shall be in the form provided by the City Clerk. Each permit shall expire on December 31 of the year in which issued.

6-510 License Required for Keeping of Pigeons. No person shall keep four (4) or more pigeons on any premises in the City of less than five (5) acres in size without first obtaining a license as provided in this Section and no person shall keep or harbor pigeons except in compliance with this Section.

(1) As used in this Section the term “pigeon” includes any and all varieties of pigeons. The term “loft” includes any and all quarters in which pigeons are housed.
(2) Application for a license to keep pigeons shall be made to the City Clerk on such forms as the City Clerk may provide. The application shall be investigated by the administrative staff of the City to determine compliance with the ordinance of the City and shall then be referred to the City Council which shall have the discretion to grant or deny the license. The Council shall conduct a public hearing if required by City Code Chapter 6-600. In making such determination, the Council shall take into consideration, among other things, the following: the adequacy of the housing for the pigeons; the methods to be used for sanitation and to maintain quiet; and, with particularity, any violations during the previous license period, if applicable. The Council may also impose such conditions as it shall deem necessary and appropriate to carry out the intent of this Chapter.
(3) In addition to such information required by the City Clerk the application shall also include the following information:

(a) A site plan showing the location and size of the premises and the location, size and type of all structures for the housing of the pigeons.
(b) The maximum number of pigeons to be kept on the premises at any one time.
(c) An agreement by the applicant that the premises may be inspected by the City at all reasonable times so as to assure compliance with the following:

i. All premises on which pigeons are kept or maintained shall be kept reasonably clean from filth, garbage, and any substances which attract rodents. The loft and its surroundings must be cleaned at least weekly.
ii. The loft must be constructed and maintained so as to be rodent-proof.
iii. All pigeons shall be fed within the confines of the loft on the premises on which the pigeons are housed. The pigeons shall be confined to the loft except when they are released for exercise, performance, training, or to return from areas outside the corporate limits of the City of Coon Rapids for the purpose of engaging in a race or returning from training flights.
iv. All grains and foods stored for the use of the pigeons on a licensed premises shall be kept in rodent free containers.
v. Pigeons shall not be kept in such a manner as to constitute a nuisance to the occupants of adjacent property.
vi. All conditions imposed by the Council shall be complied with.

(4) Revocation. If the licensee fails to comply with the statements made in the application or with any reasonable conditions imposed by the Council or violates any other provisions of this Chapter, the licensee shall be notified by mail and given ten (10) days to remedy any defects or defaults. If such conditions be not remedied in said ten (10) days, the Council may revoke the license in accordance with the provisions of Section 5-108.

(5) License Period and Fee. Each license issued pursuant to this Section shall expire on December 31 of the year in which issued. The annual license fee shall be $46.00 per year which fee may be prorated in accordance with the provisions of City Code Section 5-105; provided, however, that the license fee for applicants 17 years of age or younger, or 65 years of age or older, shall be 50 percent of the fee herein provided. [Revised 09/24/91, Ordinance 1386] [Revised 11/9/93, Ordinance 1472][Revised 12/6/94, Ordinance 1515][Revised 11/21/95, Ordinance 1549][Revised 11/19/96, Ordinance 1584][Revised 11/18/97, Ordinance 1621][Revised 11/17/98, Ordinance 1652][Revised 11/16/99, Ordinance 1681][Revised 11/21/00, Ordinance 1714][Revised 11/20/01, Ordinance 1739] [Revised 11/19/02, Ordinance 1789][Revised 12/2/03, Ordinance 1824]

6-511 Abatement of Nonconforming Uses. Any person maintaining or harboring non-domestic animals contrary to the provisions of this Chapter on its effective date, may continue such nonconforming use; provided, however, that the use shall be discontinued within ninety (90) days after the effective date of this Chapter.

6-512 Penalty. Any person convicted of a violation of any provision of this Chapter will be guilty of a misdemeanor.