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Bylaw 368-21
Page 1 of 3
VILLAGE OF COWLEY
BYLAW # 368-21
A BYLAW OF THE VILLAGE OF COWLEY IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA FOR THE
PURPOSE OF AMENDING BYLAW #368, BEING THE ANIMAL CONTROL BYLAW
WHEREAS the Municipal Government Act, R.S.A 2000, Chapter M-26 and amendments thereto, allows a
municipality to pass by laws regulating and controlling wild and domestic animals and activities in
relation to them;
AND WHEREAS Municipal Government Act, R.S.A 2000, Chapter M-26 and amendments thereto, allows a
municipality to impose fines and penalties for infractions of the bylaws;
NOW THEREFORE the Council of the Village of Cowley in the Province of Alberta, duly assembled does
hereby enact the following:
1. This bylaw may be cited as "THE ANIMAL CONTROL BYLAW AMENDMENT".
2. Amendments per Schedule A attached.
Bylaw 368-21
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SCHEDULE A
1. Add to Animal Control Bylaw, new definitions as follows:
Chicken means a domesticated fowl that is kept for egg or meat production or as a pet, but does
not include a turkey, goose, duck, artificially reared grouse, partridge, quail, pheasant, or
ptarmigan.
Coop means a fully enclosed weatherproof structure and attached outdoor enclosure used for
the keeping of urban chickens, that is no larger than 10m2 (108 ft2) in floor area, and no more
than 2.4 m (8 ft) in height.
Hen means a domesticated female chicken.
Outdoor Enclosure means a securely enclosed, roofed outdoor area attached to and forming
part of a coop having a bare earth or vegetated floor for chickens to roam.
Rooster means a domesticated male chicken.
Village means the Village of Cowley.
2. Within the boundaries of the Village as defined within this bylaw.
a. A person may keep up to a maximum of 10 chickens upon a parcel of land.
b. No person shall:
-
Keep a rooster
3. Responsibilities of the Chicken Owner
a. Chicken owners must comply with the Alberta Animal Health Act and any other applicable
standards adopted by the Province of Alberta.
b. Chicken owners on whose property hens are kept have a duty to take reasonable measures
to ensure that:
-
The coop and hens kept in the coop do not pose a safety risk to persons on adjacent
public or private property.
-
The potential for damage to building and/or property located on adjacent public or
private property because of the keeping of chickens is minimized.
-
Are required to follow procedures outlined by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to
reduce potential disease outbreak.
Bylaw 368-21
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4. A person who keeps one or more Chickens within the Village must:
a. Provide each chicken with at least .37 m2 (4 ft2) of coop floor area, and at least .92m2
(10ft2) of roofed outdoor enclosure; with all structures meeting the setback requirements
within the Land Use Bylaw.
b. Provide and maintain a floor of any combination of vegetated or bare earth in each outdoor
enclosure.
c. Provide and maintain in each coop, at least one perch, for each chicken, that is at least 15cm
(0.5 ft) long and one nest box.
d. Always keep each chicken in the enclosed area.
e. Provide each chicken with food, water, shelter, light, ventilation, veterinary care, and
opportunities for essential behaviors such as scratching, dust bathing, and roosting, all
sufficient to maintain the chicken in good health.
f. Maintain each chicken enclosure in good repair and sanitary condition, and free from
vermin and obnoxious smells and substances.
g. Construct and maintain each chicken enclosure to prevent any rodent from harbouring
underneath or within it or within its' walls, and to prevent entrance by any other animal.
h. Keep a food container and water container in each coop.
i.
Keep each coop secured from sunset to sunrise.
j.
Remove leftover feed, trash, and manure in a timely manner.
k. Store manure within a fully enclosed structure and store no more than 3 ft3 of manure at a
time.
l.
Remove all other manure not used for composting or fertilizing and dispose of in a proper
manner.
m. Follow biosecurity procedures recommended by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to
reduce potential for disease outbreak.
n. Keep chickens for personal use only.
5. Any person who keeps chickens within the Village that is in contravention of Schedule A is guilty
of an offence.
6. This Bylaw comes into force and effect upon third and final passing thereof.
Read a first time on this _______ day of __________________, 2022.
Read a second time on this ________day of ________________, 2022.
Read a third time and passed on this ________day of __________________, 2022.
________________________
_____________________________
Mayor
Chief Administrative Officer