The city of Marthasville has adopted new rules for keeping farm animals within the city limits.Mayor David Lange said an ordinance approved at the Dec. 21 board of aldermen meeting stipulates what animals may be kept at city residences and set requirements for animal shelters. Lange explained the new rules came about because animals were becoming nuisances for neighbors.“What we had was chickens starting to get loose, getting off of people’s property and onto other people’s property,” he said. “The board of aldermen had no problem with people having laying hens for their own purposes. We just want them to stay on their property.”The ordinance prohibits residents from allowing their animals to roam at large and from using their animals for any commercial or resale purpose. It also outlines conditions and setback requirements for animal dwellings.The ordinance bans pigs from being kept within city limits under any circumstances. Large animals such as horses or goats may be kept as pets. Rabbits and fowl may also be kept for personal use.Chickens face the strictest requirements. Roosters may not be kept within the city, under the new ordinance. There also is a limit of eight hens per residence and specific space, confinement and waste disposal requirements are set out in the code.The ordinance also prohibits slaughtering chickens anywhere that can be observed from another property, street or alley. Waste from slaughtering chickens must be disposed to avoid “obnoxious” odors.Shelter RequirementsStables or other shelters for horses, goats and ponies must be located at least 50 feet from any property line and the animals must be confined to the owner’s property.Rabbits, geese, ducks, turkeys and other fowl must be kept in permanent shelters, pens or cages located at least 25 feet from any property line. The animal’s dwelling must have a concrete floor and be maintained in a sanitary condition.A hen enclosure must be bounded by a wire fence no more than 6 feet tall. The area enclosed must have a minimum size of 10 square feet per hen and be located entirely in a property’s rear yard. The enclosure and accompanying coop must be set back at least 25 feet from any residence other than that of the owner.No more than one chicken coop may be located on a lot. Coops must contain at least 4 square feet per animal, but no more than 100 square feet. They must have a roof made of standard building material, but not a tarpaulin. Coop walls must be wood or metal and no more than 6 feet tall. Floors must be non-porous vinyl, plastic or concrete, covered with straw or wood shavings.Chicken owners must take steps to prevent manure or other waste from running off onto adjoining property, either by collecting and removing it or by regularly tilling it into the soil, the ordinance states.Chickens