TO THE RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF INDEPENDENCE, OAKLAND COUNTY, MICHIGAN, AND ANY OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS:

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE, that at a regular meeting of the Charter Township of Independence Board of Trustees held on October 24, 2023, the Township Board approved a First Reading of the amendment to the Zoning Ordinance Chapter 50, Article 2, Section 2.02 Definitions and Article 5, Section 5.11, Maintenance of Animals and a new Article IV, Chapter 8 of the General Code of Ordinances, as presented. The Board authorized a Second Reading of said Ordinance Amendment to be held on the next available Board of Trustees Regular Meeting.

A true copy of the text amendments is on file in the Planning & Zoning Department office and the Township’s Clerk’s office and may be examined during normal business hours, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

STATE OF MICHIGAN

COUNTY OF OAKLAND

CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF INDEPENDENCE

ORDINANCE NO. 2023-50-TBD

ORDINANCE AMENDING ZONING ORDINANCE

(Text Amendments to Zoning Ordinance)

Revise Section 2.02 Definition of Class III animal as follows:

Class III animal. Class III animals are rabbits (which are not maintained or kept as domesticated household pets); animals considered as poultry, except for chickens, and other animals weighing less than seventy-five (75) pounds not specifically classified herein.

Add an introductory paragraph to Section 5.11Maintenance of Animals, as follows:

The regulations of this section applies to all properties where animals are kept, with the exception of bona fide farm operations protected under the Right to Farm Act, P.A. 93 of 1981 and the keeping of chickens regulated by Chapter 8, Article IV – Keeping of Chickens. The maintenance of animals is subject to the following provisions:

(Amendments to Chapter 8 – Animals of the Township Code of Ordinances)

Add an Article IV – Keeping of Chickens with sections of definitions, general requirements, licensing and inspections, enclosures, performance standards, exemptions, private restrictions and violations to allow for annual licenses to be issued for up to four (4) hens on a single-family residential property that is not a farm operation, not less than one (1) acre in area in the R-1A, R-1B, R-1C, and R-1R Zoning Districts when all of the standards of the Article are met.

CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF INDEPENDENCE

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By: Cari J. Neubeck, Clerk