Table of Contents

Food Systems | Urban Livestock

The county code's animal chapter addresses the keeping of animals in residential districts (§6-2). Livestock must be kept at least 200 yards from human residences, with the exception of residential noncommercial chicken keeping, which is permitted according to standards. Standards allow 10 chickens per lot with 10 SF of land area and 2 SF of shelter area per chicken, and address shelter, fencing, setbacks, location, sanitation, odor. Roosters are prohibited.

Outdoor Lighting

The county's development code includes outdoor lighting regulations that establish five light zones that function like zoning overlays (§16-44 et seq.). Provisions address purpose, applicability, prohibitions, exemptions, lighting plan, lighting zone designations, general design standards, residential lighting, nonresidential lighting, right-of-way lighting, special use lighting types, and lighting plan only lighting types.

Solar Energy

The county's development code protects solar access through a solar rights permit. Systems installed in locations where they would not be shaded by a 12-foot obstruction along neighboring lot lines are protected from shading by future structures or vegetation (Sec. 16-279).