[Vision2020] Turkeys Banned In New Poultry Regulation

[Garrett Clevenger]

The city council will be considering a new poultry regulation (see below).  

My concern is that it bans rearing turkeys within city limits aparrently because the city attorney thinks they are too noisy.  Ducks and geese will be allowed.  From my experience, ducks and geese are noisier.

I've raised between three and five turkeys at a time off and on here in the city over the last ten years with no neighbor complaints.  In fact, people seem interested in the birds, particularly kids.

Turkeys are only around for three to five months.  They don't pose more of a nuisance than chickens and are less noisy than barking dogs.

Turkeys are very efficient and well-natured meat birds. Losing the ability to raise them in the city would be yet another blow to our connection with food we eat.
I hope the city modifies this ordinance to include turkeys.  The current wording seems arbitrary.


Garrett Clevenger


SECTION 1:  That Moscow City Code Title 10, Chapter 4, Section 12 be amended as follows: 
. . . 
Sec. 4-12. Maintaining Certain Animals Regulated. 
A. It shall be unlawful to keep or maintain any fowl, rabbits, horses, cows, sheep or goats 
within the City, except as provided in this Chapter or as specifically provided elsewhere in 
this Code.   
 1. a. Fowl.  For purposes of this subsection, “fowl” shall mean domesticated birds 
(galliformes and anseriformes), and shall include chickens, ducks, and geese but shall 
not include peafowl, guinea fowl, turkeys, ostriches, or emus.   
i.A person may lawfully maintain four (4) fowl which are more than twelve (12) 
weeks from hatch per lot of not less than five thousand (5,000) square feet and one 
(1) additional fowl more than twelve (12) weeks from hatch for each additional 
twelve hundred fifty (1,250) square feet per lot up to a total of twelve (12) fowl 
more than twelve (12) weeks from hatch per lot. 
ii.A person may also mainatin up to twenty five (25) fowl not more than twelve (12) 
weeks from hatch, per lot which is of not less than five thousand (5,000) square 
feet, if such fowl are not intended for sale and do not comprise a commercial 
agricultural use, as demonstrated by the person keeping or maintaining such fowl.   
iii.It shall be unlawful for a person to keep or maintain male fowl within the City 
limits except for a time period not to exceed twelve (12) weeks from hatch, as 
demonstrated by the person keeping or maintaining such male fowl.   
iv.In no event shall the coop and/or run constructed for containing fowl be less than 
twenty five feet (25’) from a dwelling other than that of the person keeping or 
maintaining fowl.   
v.It shall be unlawful for a person to keep or maintain peafowl, guinea fowl, 
turkeys, ostriches, or emus within City limits.   
vi.This subsection shall not apply to zoning districts which allow commercial 
agricultural uses, or to areas otherwise exempted by this Code or to uses 
specifically permitted by this Code. 
specifically permitted by this Code. 
Garrett Clevenger
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