Ben Madilynn
FLUSHING, MI — The city of Flushing is considering adopting an ordinance that’d prohibit residents from owning any hoofed animals on less than five acres of land.
The Flushing City Council voted 6-0 to approve the first reading of the proposed ordinance during its Aug. 12 meeting, with Flushing City Councilwoman Brooke Good absent.
Flushing City Manager Michelle King explained the city’s code enforcement officer has received several complaints regarding larger animals like goats, pigs, cows and horses on certain properties in the city.
“Our ordinance simply did not address most animals, so we just kind of tackled the largest, which would be the most problematic or have the potential of being the most problematic,” she said.
King clarified that the ordinance only applies to hoofed animals, not chickens or other fowl.
“That’s already addressed,” she said. “Residents are allowed to have up to six chickens, no roosters or other birds that would violate the noise ordinance.”
During the council’s meeting on Sept. 9, a public hearing will be held regarding the proposed animal ordinance, and after completing a second reading of the ordinance, the council will vote on its adoption.
If the council votes to adopt the ordinance, 20 days would have to pass before it would take effect in the city.
“I believe it’s going to be a civil infraction, so it’s going to be a ticket from the code enforcement officer.” King said. “And of course though, we’d have to remove the animal.”
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