WILSON — The Wilson City Council gave approval at the Jan. 21 meeting to updated guidelines for the keeping of animals and poultry other than household pets within the Wilson city limits.

The guidelines will go along with the city’s animal ordinance said Mayor Michael Peschka.

Wilson Police Chief Joshua Tipton, who also heads the city’s board of health, said the guidelines are a “huge improvement” for both the board of health and the police department.

“We’re not trying to come in and change the world,” Peschka said. “And we’re not trying to affect people that have been doing a great job with their poultry.”

He also said the updated guidelines will make it easier to determine if there has been a violation.

The guidelines note:

“Any animals and poultry kept within city limits, other than common household pets, will be kept and contained in an appropriate and humane manner, such as a pen, shed, tethered, etc. Animals, other than common household pets, not identified within these guidelines are prohibited from being kept within city limits unless the applicant obtains a waiver and approval from the city council.

Owners or keepers of these animals will be responsible to keep the animals in a humane way, and from causing a nuisance, disturbance, or hazard as defined in City of Wilson Ordinance No. 715 and lations or to validate complaints from city residents.

“Violations of these guidelines or associated ordinances will result in corrective actions to be taken,” the guidelines state. “Required actions may include the removal of some or all of the permitted animals and poultry and the revocation of the annual permit. The city office, public safety officer and/or city board of health may reject an application or refer it to the city council.”

Any applicant that has been rejected may also appeal to the city council. Ordinance No. 831.”

The guidelines describe the permit process, animal enclosures, the maximum of animals (by species) to be kept, and the minimum required space for keeping the animals in.

The document also notes that during the annual permit application process the public safety officer and/or city board of health may inspect the property to ensure the guidelines will be met. Following the issuance of an annual permit, the public safety officer and/or city board of health have the right to inspect the property at any time to search for vio-