More and more people are housing chickens and other fowl and other animals on city lots in violation of Malad City ordinance. Malad City Zoning Ordinance No. 474, Article IV, 1(c)5 General Provisions states as follows:

Animals Allowed In any "R" Residential Zone in which the land is predominantly vacant or occupied by agricultural uses, the keeping of cows, horses, sheep, and fowl shall be subject to the following limitations: 

A. A minimum of one-half (1/2) acre (21,780 square feet) is required to keep cow(s), sheep, horse(s), or fowl within Malad City limits. There may be kept not more than two (2) cows, two (2) sheep, two (2) horses or fifteen (15) fowl per one-half (1/2) acre (21,780 square feet) of land upon which the same are kept, and two (2) cows, two (2) sheep, two (2) horses or fifteen (15) fowl per one-half (1/2) acre of land thereafter in one-half (1/2) acre increments.

B. Except for pasturing purposes, no cows, sheep, or horses shall be kept within a distance of 50 feet from any street line, nor within a distance of 100 feet from any dwelling other than a dwelling on a parcel of land on which the same are kept, nor within a distance of 50 feet from any dwelling. 

C. Fowl shall not be kept within a distance of 50 feet from any street line, nor within a distance of 100 feet from any dwelling other than a dwelling on a parcel of land on which the same are kept, nor within a distance of 50 feet from any dwelling. 

D. It shall be unlawful for any person to keep any animal on any property located within the city when the keeping of such animal(s), or the method Ordinance No. 474 Page 26 of keeping or harboring such animal(s), constitutes a public nuisance or menace to public health or safety or causes an adverse impact to neighboring properties. 

The ordinance goes on to state what is considered a public nuisance, which includes animals running at large, noise and smell, and because there is not room in this newsletter, we would ask that you visit the Malad City website, maladidaho.org, and read the entire ordinance. 

If you are in violation of this ordinance, you can request a variance, where your neighbors must give their permission for the variance. If you are in violation of the ordinance, you are subject to complaints being filed against you, in which case the Sheriff’s Office could demand that you remove the animals or fowl.