PERRY TOWNSHIP — Zoning Inspector Dan Bowers reminded residents that the township has its own regulations for keeping chickens.

Bowers said that he has received calls from residents about keeping chickens in the township and that the township’s regulations are different from the city of Salem’s.

“We are slightly different than Salem, so I hope people reference our zoning laws for Perry Township for chickens,” said Bowers.

In the township, all birds must be “provided with a covered, predator proof coop or shelter that is ventilated, designed to be easily accessed and cleaned and of sufficient size to provide free movement of the birds.” Chicken coops must be in the side or rear yard of the property, must meet the zoning district’s side and rear setback requirements and be a minimum of 75 feet from any neighboring residence. Coops must also provide a minimum of 4 square feet per bird, have a maximum height of 15 feet, and are considered an accessory building which must meet zoning requirements.

Birds must also have access to an outdoor enclosure which is adequately bounded to both contain them and prevent access by predators and provide a minimum area of 10 square feet for each bird. Keeping roosters, geese, turkeys, guinea hens, predatory birds, “or other large vocal poultry” is not permitted in the township, and any birds which are kept “cannot make noise so as to disturb the peace and quiet of people in the vicinity.”

The number of birds which may be kept is determined by the size of the property, with none permitted for a property less than 1 acre in size, eight permitted for a property of 1 to 1.99 acres; 12 permitted for a property of 2 to 2.99 acres; 16 permitted for a property of 3 to 3.99 acres; and 20 permitted for a property of 4 to 4.99 acres.

For further information residents can reference the township’s zoning code book which is available on the township’s website.

The board of trustees will meet next at 4 p.m. March 24.