Dartmouth Board of Health Regulations: Keeping of Animals
A. DEFINITIONS
REGULATED ANIMALS: swine, horses, cows, goats, sheep, burros, llamas, deer, chickens, ducks, pigeons or other fowl, or other farm type animals stabled outside homes within the Town of Dartmouth.
STABLE: any building, enclosure, premises or portion thereof where regulated animals over twenty (20) pounds, other than house pets, are kept.
SMALL ANIMAL SHELTER: any building, enclosure, premises or portion thereof where regulated small animals, (i.e. fowl & rabbits) under twenty (20) pounds, other than house pets, are kept.
WETLAND: any wetland resource area as defined in 310CMR 10.000 with the exception of floodplains.
B: REGULATIONS FOR ISSUING OF GENERAL PERMITS
1. No person shall keep within the limits of this town, in any building, or on any premises of less
than 5 acres which he may be the owner, tenant, or occupant, swine, horses, cattle, goats, rabbits,
pigeons, fowl, ducks, poultry, sheep or other regulated animals without a permit from the Board
of Health. The presence of two or more pigs or piglets requires a piggery permit from the Board
of Health.
All permits shall expire annually on December 1 and may be revoked, for cause & after due
process, by the Board of Health.
The Conservation Commission will be notified by the Board of Health of all new animal permit applications.
2. A permit will be issued only to someone who resides at the location for which the permit is requested. No building shall be used as a small shelter or stable if it is within five (5') feet of a property line.
3. Before a permit can be granted, an Animal Inspector or Officer of the Board of Health is to visit the property to determine fitness and suitability of site. Abutter approval will be taken into consideration.
4. The owners or persons in control of any buildings or premises, in which animals are kept, shall keep the buildings and premises clean and free from decaying food, filth, dirt, stagnant water, and animal wastes and shall provide a pit constructed of cement or
another suitable plan, approved by the Board of Health for the storage & disposal of manure.
No storage of manure within one hundred feet (100') of any property line, wetland, or well.
Manure shall be spread upon land only when such land is in condition to plow, and manure so spread shall be plowed under within forty-eight (48) hours.
5. No stable or small animal shelter shall be occupied or used within the Town, without first obtaining a permit from the Board of Health; no stable or small animal shelter shall be built within one hundred feet (100') of a wetland. No pasture, corral or pen shall be located within twenty-five (25') feet of a wetland.
6. No stable shall be located less than one hundred (100') from a dwelling (excluding an owner occupied dwelling). No small animal shelter shall be located within twenty-five (25') feet of a dwelling (excluding an owner occupied dwelling).
7. All authorized animals must be confined to their permitted property.
8. Adequate water supply must be available.
9. No permit shall be transferred except with the approval
of the Board of Health.
10. Inspection: If deficiencies are found upon routine inspection by the Animal Inspector, or upon complaint received by the Health Department, a re-inspection is conducted. If such inspection confirms the validity of such complaint, a representative of the Board of Health may at his/her discretion issue a written order to the person or persons having control of the premises to correct the offending deficiencies. Failure to comply with said warning or repeat offenses may result in fines and/or penalties.
C: NO PERMIT REQUIRED: REGULATIONS FOR STABLING OF ANIMALS ON PARCELS OF LAND OF FIVE ACRES OR MORE
1. Animals and premises shall be subject to inspection and taking of yearly census by an authorized agent of the Board of Health from time to time.
2. The owner or agent of owner of animals must reside on the property where the animals are stabled. Leases of working farms are acceptable.
3. Items 4 through 10, inclusive, of Section II shall apply under this "No Permit Required" section.
D: ADMINISTRATION
Renewals: If any complaints are received regarding a permitted premise, and are investigated and verified by the Animal Inspector within the year prior to the renewal date, a re-inspection must be completed one (1) month prior to the renewal date. The Animal Inspector will then submit a detailed written report to the Board, who will review the information and act on the renewal application.
A $5.00 late filing fee shall be imposed on all permits which are renewed more than sixty (60) days late.
Exemptions: Permitted, pre-existing, non-conforming uses may continue to operate unless complaints are received and substantiated by the Board of Health. Such situations will then be reviewed and resolved as the situation requires.
Change in Regulations: The Board of Health may from time to time amend or abrogate any of these regulations, if in its opinion the safety of the public requires such action.