NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

In May 2021, Calumet Township considered a Residential Animal Ordinance, which was ultimately not adopted due to Taxpayer concerns. To encourage community engagement and gather valuable feedback, we are publishing the previously proposed ordinance here. At the July 24th, 2025, Calumet Township Board meeting, the discussion of adpoting a Residential Animal Ordinance was reconsidered. We invite all taxpayers to review the document and share their input, suggestions, or concerns via email. Your feedback will help shape future discussions and ensure that any potential ordinance reflects the needs and values of our community.

Please review the ordinance below and submit your comments to caltwpsupervisor@gmail.com

CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALUMET, COUNTY OF HOUGHTON, STATE OF MICHIGAN 
ORDINANCE NO. __ 

AN ANIMAL CONTROL ORDINANCE LIMITING THE AREAS WHERE FARM ANIMALS AND FOWL MAY BE KEPT IN THE TOWNSHIP, BANNING THE KEEPING OF EXOTIC ANIMALS IN THE TOWNSHIP, AND LIMITING THE NUMBER OF DOGS THAT MAY BE KEPT IN SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE DISTRICTS AND RESORT RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS 

PURPOSE 
The Charter Township of Calumet is adopting this animal control ordinance to limit the areas where farm animals and fowl may be kept in the Township, to ban the keeping of exotic animals in the Township, and to limit the number of dogs that may be kept in single-family residence districts and resort residential districts. 
The purposes of this ordinance are to insulate residential areas from the noise, dust, odors, and other conditions associated with the keeping of fann animals and fowl, to protect the residents of the Township from the risks posed by the keeping of exotic animals, and to limit the nuisances associated with excessive dog ownership, (such as barking and the smell of feces) in single-family residence districts and resort residential districts. The Township deems adoption of this ordinance to be necessary to preserve the public peace and for the health and safety of persons and property in the Township. 
THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF CALUMET ORDAINS: 
SECTION I 
TITLE 
This zoning amendment shall be known as and may be cited as the Charter Township of Calumet Animal Control Ordinance. 
SECTION II 
DEFINITIONS 
The following tenns used in this ordinance have the following meanings: 
"Farm animals" means livestock and equine animals. 
"Livestock" means animals normally kept or raised on a fann in connection with the production of food and other farm products, including but not limited to cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats. 
"Equine animals" means horses, ponies, asses, zebras and other hooved animals. 
"Fowl" means a bird that is normally kept or raised or hunted for food, including but not limited to chickens, turkeys, guinea hens, pigeons, pheasants, geese, and ducks. 
"Exotic animals" means all of the following: (i) any animal being generally incapable by its nature of being domesticated and being normally found in the wild, including, but not limited to alligators, badgers, bears, beavers, bobcats, chinchilla, chipmunks, cougars, coyotes, crows, deer, doves, dog-wolves, eagles, elk, foxes, gophers, grouse, hares, hawks, jaguars, kangaroos, lions, lynx, mink, muskrats, opossums, owls, partridges, peacocks, pheasants, porcupines, prairie wolverines, wolves and woodchucks; (ii) snakes, whether poisonous or not; and (iii) any species of animal considered endangered under federal or state law or regulation. 
"Keep" and its derivatives mean to intentionally retain possession. 
SECTION III 
AREAS WHERE FARM ANIMALS AND FOWL MAY BE KEPT IN THE TOWNSHIP 
Farm animals and fowl may be kept in a Rural Residential District (R3). The keeping of farm animals and fowl in any zoning district other than a Rural Residential District (R3) is prohibited ifthere are more than 13 homes within l /8 of a mile of the place where the fann animals or fowl are kept or any home within 250 feet of the place where the farm animals or fowl are kept. 
SECTION IV 
BAN ON KEEPING EXOTIC ANIMALS IN THE T0WNSHIP 
The keeping of exotic animals within the Township is prohibited. 
SECTION V 
LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF DOGS IN SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE DISTRICTS AND 
RESORT RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS 
No more than four adult dogs shall be kept in a Single-Family Residence District (RI) or a Resort Residential District (R2). Dogs born to an adult dog that is permitted within the four-dog limitation at the time of birth may be kept until the newly-born dog is four months of age, after which he or she shall be considered an adult dog for purposes of the four-dog limitation. 
SECTION VI 
NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THE KEEPING OF FARM ANIMALS, FOWL AND EXOTIC 
ANIMALS OR NON?COMPLIANCE THE NUMBER OF DOGS THAT MAY BE KEPT ON THE 
DA TE OF ADOPTION OF TIIIS ORDINANCE 
The keeping of farm animals, fowl, and exotic animals or the keeping of the number of dogs that may be kept upon the adoption of this ordinance may be continued but not expanded until the keeping of the fann animals, fowl, or exotic animals or the keeping of the number of dogs is abandoned by the person or persons keeping the farm animals, fowl, or exotic animals or dogs. This limited right to continue the keeping of farm animals, fowl or exotic animals or number of dogs shall not be deemed to be transferrable and this limited right shall end upon the sale, leasing, or other transfer of possession of the property upon which the farm animals, fowl or exotic animals or dogs were located on the date of adoption of this ordinance. 
SECTION VII 
VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES 
A violation of this ordinance is a municipal civil infraction and this ordinance shall be enforceable under the Charter Township of Calumet Municipal Penalty, Civil Infractions and Appearance Tickets Ordinance " (Ordinance No. 41 ). Each day during which any violation of this ordinance continues shall be Enforcement of this ordinance under Ordinance No. 41 shall be in addition to the rights of the Township to proceed at law or equity with other appropriate and proper remedies, including but not limited to bringing an action for injunctive relief to restrain, prevent, or abate any violation of this ordinance. 
A person violating this ordinance shall be required to pay to the extent allowable by law all enforcement costs which may include all legal fees, court costs and other expenses, direct and indirect, which the Township incurs in connection with a violation of this ordinance. 
SECTION VIIl 
PROCEDURES AND EFFECTIVE DATE 
This ordinance was introduced in a public meeting of the Calumet Township Board of Trustees on April 30, 2021. The Calumet Township Board of Trustees votes to recommend adoption of the ordinance. The text of the ordinance will be published in the Daily Mining Gazette on ___ _, 2021. Following publication of the ordinance, the Township Board will vote at a regular or special meeting on May 28, 2021 to adopt or reject the ordinance or seek revision of the ordinance. If the Township Board votes to approve the ordinance, notice of adoption of ordinance will be published within 30 days of adoption. On week after publication, a copy of the ordinance will then be filed with the Calumet Township Clerk and the ordinance will be added to the Township's book of ordinances. The ordinance will become effective thirty days after notice of adoption has been published.