ORDINANCE NO. ______, SERIES 2026
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AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE LOUISVILLE METRO CODE OF ORDINANCES CHAPTER 91 DEFINITIONS TO REMOVE CERTAIN RESTRAINT REQUIREMENTS.
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SPONSORED BY: COUNCIL MEMBER JENNIFER CHAPPELL
WHEREAS, responsible urban livestock ownership supports local food systems, education and youth agricultural programs, sustainability, small-scale homesteading efforts, and community connection; and
WHEREAS, regulations governing livestock should balance animal welfare, neighborhood compatibility, and reasonable property use; and
WHEREAS, a one-size-fits-all approach may not account for differences in animal type, property configuration, or management practices; and
WHEREAS, appropriate standards of care, nuisance enforcement, and health regulations are more directly tied to animal well-being than arbitrary acreage thresholds; and
WHEREAS, stakeholder input from livestock owners, neighbors, and animal welfare professionals is essential to crafting fair and workable regulations; and
WHEREAS, clarity and consistency in ordinance language will assist both residents and enforcement agencies in understanding and complying with local requirements.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF THE LOUISVILLE/JEFFERSON COUNTY METRO GOVERNMENT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I: Louisville Metro Code of Ordinances ("LMCO") Chapter 91 is hereby amended as follows:
? 91.001 DEFINITIONS.
ABANDON or ABANDONMENT. ABANDONMENT consists of leaving an animal for a period in excess of 24 hours, without the animal's owner or the owners' designated caretaker providing all provisions of necessity as defined in this chapter and checking on the animal's condition.
AGRICULTURAL USE. A tract of at least five contiguous acres for the production of agricultural or horticultural crops, as defined in KRS 100.111.
ALTERED ANIMAL. Any animal that has been spayed or neutered.
ANIMAL. Any non-human living creature, domestic or wild, excluding fish, i...
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