Essex Board of Health Animal Regulations
CHAPTER VIII
PUBLIC HEALTH REGULATIONS
8-1 ANIMAL IMPOUNDMENT AREAS
8-1.1 Animals shall be segregated by species (dogs, cats, etc.)
8-1.2 Dogs shall be confined by size (small, medium, large). Confinement areas shall be minimum of the following areas:
a. Small dogs (1 - 35 lbs.) 12 sq., ft. per dog.
b. Medium dogs (36 - 50 lbs.) 20 sq. ft. per dog.
c. Large dogs (51 lbs and over) 24 sq. ft. per dog.
If dogs are confined to these areas, separate exercise areas shall be provided large enough to keep the animal in good health.
d. Aggressive dogs shall be kept separate.
e. Diseased, sick or injured dogs shall be kept separate.
f. Puppies shall be kept separate from adult dogs, unless nursing, then mother only
g. Dog confinement areas shall have temperature control of at least 50 degrees, not over 85 degrees, at floor level. Cleaned at least once a day. Walls and floors shall be impervious so they are easily cleanable. Well ventilated. Well lighted. Have bed board or clean dry bedding material, adequate to accommodate dog confined. Provided with food and water in containers mounted so as to prevent spillage or fouling by animal. Disease, bacteria and parasites (fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, etc.) shall be controlled. Droppings shall be disposed of by chemical decomposition, burying, or other acceptable methods (not used as fertilizer). Dead animals shall be cremated or buried in a designated area.
h. Diseased, sick or injured animals shall be provided with adequate medical attention.
i. The following rules shall apply for food requirements for confined dogs:
1. Adequate diet consists of the following portions: One half pound of cooked meat mixed with one pound of dry commercial dog food ( add enough water to mix well).
2. Adult animals shall be fed once daily with the above mixture, one pound of food per 25 lbs. of dog.
3. Puppies (under 6 months) shall be fed as prescribed by local veterinarian, if required.
8-1.3 The vehicle used to pick up and/or transport animals shall provide the following:
a. Adequate ventilation.
b. Temperature control, ventilation or heat to insure the 50-85 degree temperature.
c. Separate compartments or cages to separate dead, diseased, injured, etc., animals from all other if required.
d. Animals shall not be kept in vehicle in excess of four hours.
e. Vehicle shall be kept clean and free of vermin.
f. Injured or sick animals shall be medically treated as soon as practical.
g. Animals shall not be exposed to adverse weather conditions or excess engine exhaust fumes.
8-1.4 If the need arises to confine other animals, the rules of sanitation, humane treatment, and common sense shall apply.
8-2 CISTERNS
8-2.1 Anyone wishing to construct a cistern must submit an application and a detailed drawing of a proposed plan to the Board of Health for approval. No construction may begin until approval of the plan is given by the Board, and no plan shall be approved until determined to be in compliance with these regulations.
8-2.2 A cistern is defined as a watertight tank in which water is stored, the water is usually collected from rainwater runoff from the building roofs and piped to the cistern. Under certain circumstances, groundwater, well water, or tank truck water can be used in cisterns.
8-2.3 The size of the cistern shall be determined by the dwelling occupation potential. A dwelling shall be deemed to have the average or usual potential of two persons per bedroom. Each dwelling shall therefore maintain a cistern with a 2,000. gallons per bedroom capacity.
a. 1 bedroom - 2,000 gallon cistern
b. 2 bedroom - 4,000 gallon cistern
c. 3 bedroom - 6,000 gallon cistern
The two thousand gallons per bedroom will supply approximately 35 gallons per person per day for thirty days.
8-2.4 Exterior Cisterns
a. Located at least 100 feet from any leaching area of a subsurface sewage disposal system.
b. Shall be exterior to the dwellings foundation and shall be totally separate of the dwellings exterior foundation walls.
8-2.5 Interior Cisterns
a. Shall be located twenty feet from any subsurface sewage system area.
b. Shall be built inside a dwelling foundation. The cistern shall have its own foundation (walls, ceiling, and floor). It shall not be permissible for any part of the dwelling to serve as a cistern wall, ceiling or floor.
8-2.6 All Cistern Water Systems Shall:
a. Be watertight
b. Have gutters and piping in compliance with current minimum municipal, state, or federal codes and regulations and inspected by the plumbing inspector before use.
c. Have all piping into dwelling conform to current governmental codes and regulations in effect at the time the cistern application is pending before the Board of Health.
d. Have a bypass valve installed in water supply line so that rainwater from the collection area can be diverted from the cistern until the collection area has been washed by rainwater.
e. Be screened by screening material with openings no greater than 1/16 inch square, to facilitate the removal of majority of undesirable material from water before it enters the cistern.
f. have openings such as ventilation, overflow, etc., screened to prevent entry of rodents, insects and other objectionable objects.
g. Have no cross connections between municipal and private water supply.
h. Have installation of an approved backflow preventer between the town water system and the individual house plumbing.
i. An exterior cistern shall have a manhole of sufficient size to allow entry to the cistern. The manhole shall have a curb with an edge projecting at least four inches above the surrounding surface. The manhole cover shall be watertight and provided with some means to prevent unauthorized entry by children or animals, by the use of a weight or a mechanical latch. The edge of the manhole cover shall overlap the curb and project downward for a minimum of two inches.
j. An interior cistern shall have a means of entry that prevents unauthorized entry by children or animals by use of a weight or mechanical latch.
k. Be provided with a cover material to prevent entrance of dirt, insects, rodents, and other foreign materials.
l. Be prevented from freezing.
m. Have sufficient structural strength and same shall in no event be less effective or strong than concrete cisterns under 8-2.7a
8-2.7 Cisterns shall be constructed of poured reinforced concrete, precast concrete, stainless steel, or fiberglass.
a. Cisterns constructed of poured concrete shall have walls no less than eight inches thick, and reinforced with a minimum of ½ inch diameter steel rods, horizontally and vertically placed twelve inches apart. The floor to be a minimum of six inches thick and reinforced with ½ inch diameter steel rods to be placed parallel and perpendicular twelve inches apart. All poured concrete must be equal to 4,000 pounds per square inch. Shall be poured on a minimum ten inch bed of crushed stone. All walls and floors are to be keyway joined. The interior wall shall be smooth and coated with a nontoxic sealer or vinyl liner. The cover may be reinforced concrete no less than four inches thick, or a combination of wood and vinyl. Either concrete or wood and vinyl covers must seal the tan to form a watertight fit.
b. Precast reinforced concrete, stainless steel, or fiberglass (fiberglass resin must be FDA approved) tank shall have sufficient structural strength and shall on no event be less effective or strong than poured concrete cisterns under 8-2.7a
8-2.8 Initial water test shall be conducted to determine acceptability of bacteria, chemical and physical properties of water. Treatment of the water will be required if conditions are indicated (such as chlorination). Cisterns shall have water tested annually in October, at the owner's expense, with the results submitted to the Board of Health.
8-3 DUMPSTERS
A. All dumpsters within the Town of Essex must be kept covered during the day and covered and locked at night.
B. Any land owner whose dumpster is a source of pollution, i.e., rubbish blowing about, or similar nuisance, because it is not covered or locked in accordance with this regulation will be fined $10.00 for each offense.
C. Any land owner whose dumpster is the case of a fire because it is uncovered or unlocked in accordance with this regulation will be fined $10.00 for each offense.
8-4 VARIANCE
The Board of Health may grant a variance from the Rules and Regulations established under this section under the following circumstances:
a. No such variance shall result in the enforcement of a rule or regulation or condition which would thereupon be less restrictive than the applicable State Code enforced by the local Board.
b. Factors which may be considered by the Board with respect to any particular cases shall include but not limited to those factors enumerated in Part 2, Section 15-20 of the State Environmental Code, as same may be amended from time to time.
8-5 REGIONAL HEALTH DISTRICT
Pursuant to Chapter III, Sec. 27A of the Massachusetts General Laws, the Town will form a district for the purpose of employing a Health Officer who shall be appointed by a joint committee of the Board of Health of Essex and Manchester, and for such other purposes as allowed by such statute, to be effective July 1, 1987.
Public Hearing to amend December 2, 1997
Vote to amend December 16, 1997
ATTESTED BY: _________________________________
Sally Soucy, Town Clerk
DATE: _________________________________________