Dixon adopts new animal ordinance, cracks down on farm animals

DIXON – The city updated its animal ordinance for the first time in decades, cracking down on farm animals after complaints from residents.

Ducks, geese, turkeys, rabbits, rodents, cattle, horses, swine, sheep, mules, goats, and donkeys will not be allowed within city limits unless the property owner has at least 1.4 acres of land and fencing and/or enclosures to keep the animals on the property at all times.

In addition, enclosures must be at least 50 feet from any property line, according to the new animal code the City Council approved Monday.

Those housing animals without the required acreage must register them with the city within 30 days and will have until Dec. 1 to relocate them.

The previous ordinance allowed pretty much any farm animal or livestock other than swine in city limits, and they’ve received various complaints from residents about the smell and noise from such animals, as well as concerns about their care in small spaces, Building Official Tim Shipman said.

City residents can have up to six chickens; they must be fenced and enclosed and roosters no longer are allowed. Chicken coops, houses, cages and kennels cannot be within 12 feet of any property line.

Potbellied pigs up to 150 pounds are exempt. Residents can keep up to three as pets as long as they’re spayed or neutered and wear a collar with the owner’s information.

The weight cap was originally set at 100 pounds, but Councilwoman Mary Oros said it should be pushed to 150 pounds because people keep dogs that big.

The council considered amending the ordinance in late 2018 because of complaints about a resident who had a donkey, mini horse and a humped cattle called a zebu in a small yard on Nachusa Avenue, as well as other issues. The group decided to hold off because they were able to enforce the existing ordinance in that case, which required animal enclosures to be at least 20 feet from any other dwelling.

The ordinance was amended nearly 30 years ago to allow potbellied pigs, but the bulk of the city’s animal ordinance hadn’t been updated since 1950.