Ontario allows poultry, fowl, and livestock only as residential animal keeping in the AR-2, RE-2, and AG zones (household pets aside), at a density of one poultry/fowl animal per 6,000 square feet of lot area. Crowing roosters, peacocks, and guinea fowl that disturb the neighborhood are unlawful, and unneutered male goats are prohibited.
Residential animal keeping beyond household pets is permitted by right only within the AR-2 and RE-2 zoning districts (and the AG district), per Ontario Development Code Section 5.03.410.C.1.a(1); it is prohibited in all commercial and industrial zones and limited to household pets in mixed-use zones. Table 5.03-6 sets maximum densities by net lot area: Poultry and Fowl at one animal per 6,000 SF; Birds and Rabbits/Chinchillas at one per 1,000 SF; and Sheep, Goats (female only), and similar livestock at one per 4,000 SF. Setback standards in Section 5.03.410.C.1.b(1)(c) bar keeping any animal except household pets within 20 feet of a property line, and within 50 feet (70 feet for swine) of a habitable structure other than the owner's; hobby, show, or game birds, fowl, or rabbits must be at least 30 feet from such structures, and no animal may be kept in a front or street-side yard. Section 5.03.410.C.1.b(6) (Crowing Fowl) makes it unlawful to keep any crowing rooster, peacock, guinea fowl, or other fowl that by sound or cry unreasonably disturbs the peace, and Section 5.03.410.C.1.b(4) prohibits keeping any unneutered male goat.
Exceeding the per-animal lot-area density, violating the 20/30/50-foot setbacks, keeping animals in a front yard, keeping a crowing rooster or noisy fowl, or keeping an unneutered male goat are Development Code violations enforced by Code Enforcement and the Animal Resource Center, abatable as nuisances under the Ontario Municipal Code.
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