Section 24-902. FOWL

 

902.1No person shall harbor, keep, or caused to be kept any live fowl within the District in a manner that is contrary to the provisions of this section, without a permit from the Mayor.

 

902.2A permit to keep live fowl shall be issued only upon the approval of the Director of the Department of Human Services, upon compliance with all terms and conditions of this section.

 

902.3Permits shall be dated and shall expire at the end of one (1) year. Permits may be reissued annually after the first year under the same conditions of original approval.

 

902.4An application for the renewal of a permit shall be filed within thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the existing permit. In cases where no violation of these regulations is recorded in the Department of Human Services during the preceding year, permits may be renewed for one (1) year by endorsement by the Director of Human Services.

 

902.5Applications for permits shall be furnished by the Director of the Department of Human Services, and shall include the following:

 

(a)The name and address of the applicant;

 

(b)The proposed location where the fowl will be kept;

 

(c)An accurate description of the kind and number of fowl, or the progeny of the fowl; and

 

(d)Any other information required.

 

902.6Each application shall be accompanied by a plat prepared by the District Surveyor that shows accurately the location of the enclosure for the fowl as the enclosure will be placed on the applicant's property, and the respective distance of the enclosure to adjoining property lines.

 

902.7Approval by the Director of the Department of Human Services shall be based upon investigation and a report that the following conditions are met:

 

(a)The proposed location is not within fifty feet (50 ft.) of any building used for human habitation;

 

(b)The proposed location is not within two hundred and fifty feet (250 ft.) of any property line or, if this is not the case, the applicant has furnished to the Director with the written consents of all householders and owners of property located within one hundred feet (100 ft.) of the boundaries of the premises upon which fowl are to be kept, and within the same square; and

 

(c)Adequate coops, pens, cotes, runways, and other enclosures will be provided, subject to approval by the Director upon issuance of the permit.

 

902.8No fowl shall be kept or permitted to run, fly, or stray within fifty feet (50 ft.) of any building used for human habitation, or onto property other than the enclosure designated in the application for permit; except where a permit has been approved by the Mayor and issued under §902.9.

 

902.9Notwithstanding the limitations set forth in this section, a permit may be issued to a public vocational school if the Mayor approves the issuance of a permit based on a finding that the keeping of fowl at the school will not affect adversely the health, comfort, and quiet of the neighborhood.

 

902.10All coops, pens, cotes, runways, and other enclosures shall be kept clean, dry, and sanitary at all times.

 

902.11All droppings shall be composted with twelve inches (12 in.) of earth cover, or stored in water-tight metal containers with tight-fitting covers.

 

902.12Coops, pens, cotes, runways, other enclosures, and the premises shall be free of rats, places where rats can harbor or obtain food, and conditions conducive to the breeding of flies.

 

902.13All buildings or structures on any premise where fowl are kept shall be protected against the ingress of rodents.

 

902.14Nothing in this section shall apply to properly licensed commercial fowl establishments keeping, killing, or selling fowl.

 

source

Article 18, §§9-11 of the Police Regulations (May 1981).