Standards for Chicken Keeping

ARTICLE 23.000 STANDARDS FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE Cambridge, Massachusetts, Zoning Ordinance – w/Proposed Amended Language (QZ) Created: 2021-10-22 15:14:01 [EST] (Supp. No. 4) Page 1 of 3 ARTICLE 23.000 STANDARDS FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE 23.10 INTENT It is the intent of this Article 23.000 to provide standards for Urban Agriculture that will improve residents' access to healthy, locally-produced food and other agricultural products, allow additional opportunities for economic development and social service, promote sustainability and ecological stewardship, advance public knowledge of agricultural practices, maintain public health and safety, and mitigate potential conflicts between agricultural and other urban land uses. 23.20 URBAN AGRICULTURE DEFINITIONS Apiary. A location or structure on a lot containing one or more beehives and associated beekeeping equipment. Bee. Any life stage of the common domestic honey bee, Apis mellifera. Bee Colony. An aggregate of worker bees, drones, a single queen, and brood living together as one social unit. Beekeeping. The housing of one or more bee colonies on a lot for the purpose of collecting products including honey, beeswax, propolis, pollen, and royal jelly, and/or to support the ecological benefits of pollination. Beehive. A structure intended for the housing of one Bee Colony. 23.30 GENERAL STANDARDS FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE 23.31Activities controlled by this Article shall be conducted in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations, including those related to water use and discharge. 23.32Activities controlled by this Article shall be conducted in accordance with all City of Cambridge Ordinances, including the Noise Control Ordinance (Cambridge Municipal Ordinance 8.16.010). 23.33Activities controlled by this Article shall be conducted in accordance with all applicable regulations of the Cambridge Public Health Department. 23.40 STANDARDS FOR BEEKEEPING 23.41General Standards. a. Beekeeping is allowed as an accessory use pursuant to Article 4.000 of this Zoning Ordinance, according to the standards herein.

Created: 2021-10-22 15:14:01 [EST] (Supp. No. 4) Page 2 of 3 b. A permit must be obtained from the Cambridge Public Health Department for all keeping of bee colonies, and permit-holders must be in compliance with all local public health regulations and state public health laws pertaining to beekeeping. 23.42Beehive and Apiary Size. a. A free-standing beehive shall be no greater than twenty (20) cubic feet in volume. A beehive that is attached to or contained within a building may be greater in volume, provided that no portion of the beehive greater than twenty (20) feet in volume may project beyond the principal wall plane of the building. b. The maximum height of a beehive or apiary shall be six (6) feet from grade, or from an elevated surface if located atop such a surface. This height limitation shall not apply to fences or other structures intended to separate a beehive or apiary from adjacent uses, which shall remain subject to other applicable provisions of this Zoning Ordinance. 23.43Warning Signage. a. Where any beehive is located within ten (10) feet of a public street, park, school grounds, walkway, or bikeway, a sign legible from the public way indicating that a beehive is present nearby shall be maintained so that it is readable from the public way. b. Where any beehive is located on a shared porch, balcony, or rooftop, a sign indicating that a beehive is present shall be located at the entrance to such area. PROPOSED AMENDED LANGUAGE Chicken. Any member of the domesticated species (Gallus domesticus) that arose from the red junglefowl (Gallus gallus). Chicken Coop (or Hen House). A location or structure on a lot for housing Chickens. Chicken Keeping. The housing of one or more Chickens on a lot for the purpose of collecting products including eggs, meat, and/or manure as fertilizer. Flock. An aggregate of Chickens. Hen. A female Chicken. Rooster. A male Chicken.

Created: 2021-10-22 15:14:01 [EST] (Supp. No. 4) Page 3 of 3 23.50 STANDARDS FOR CHICKEN KEEPING 23.51 General Standards. Chicken keeping (hens only) is allowed as an accessory use pursuant to Article 4.000 of this Zoning Ordinance, according to the standards herein. A permit must be obtained from the Cambridge Public Health Department for all keeping of chickens, and permit-holders must be in compliance with all local public health regulations and state public health laws pertaining to animal husbandry. 23.52 Chicken Coop and Flock Size. A free-standing chicken coop shall be no greater than two hundred (200) cubic feet in volume. A chicken coop that is attached to or contained within a building may be greater in volume, provided that no portion of the coop greater than two hundred (200) feet in volume may project beyond the principal wall plane of the building. The maximum height of a coop or hen house shall be six (8) feet from grade, or from an elevated surface if located atop such a surface. This height limitation shall not apply to fences or other structures intended to separate a coop or hen house from adjacent uses, which shall remain subject to other applicable provisions of this Zoning Ordinance. No more than a dozen (12) chickens may be kept on a lot. No roosters may be kept on a lot. Odors and noise shall be mitigated so as not to present a nuisance. Rodent and pest control measures shall be implemented, and any rodent issues shall be promptly reported to the city for additional mitigation measures. 23.53 Sale of Produce. Produce from gardening, including vegetables, honey, chicken eggs and any products derived from them, may be sold, provided that all applicable health regulations and laws are followed. In case of edible products, all ingredients must be disclosed to the buyer.