An ordinance approved Oct. 11 by Landrum City Council now allows horses to be kept on property within the city limits.
City administrator Steve Wolochowicz said the change could be a positive one if it serves as a redevelopment for vacant areas of town.
“In the past I have been approached by potential property owners who were looking in the city and around the city, but we didn’t have an ordinance in place to allow for horses,” Wolochowicz said. “With the approval of this ordinance, we could see more horse owners come to town and potentially see some of the smaller lots bought up.”
In the past, residents were prohibited from keeping horses on property inside the town limits.
The new ordinance requires two acres of dedicated pasture per horse. Wolochowicz said this means owners will have to provide a survey showing that minimum acreage is available. If the owners had 10 acres they could have four horses, although Wolochowicz said there are not very many large acreage lots inside city limits.
Fencing for such lots must also be 20 feet from the edge of the property line. Fencing facing neighbors or the road cannot be wire and instead must be made of a material that would be aesthetically pleasing, he said.
“I think we’ve got enough safeguards in there to minimize any negative impact,” Wolochowicz said.
The ordinance did not receive unanimous approval. Councilwoman Joyce Whiteside had reservations related to the potential for smell.
A potential resident and realtor first approached the council about amending the city code last month.
Property owner Nicola Deines said she believes council would be pleasantly surprised at how well-maintained she kept her property.
“The measures I take to make sure there is no smell include dragging pastures twice a week and taking other measures to make sure there is no build up of waste,” she said. “I want all of my neighbors to see a stable that is well-maintained and that will not be a detriment to their property values.”
Wolochowicz said he believes Deines property will serve as a good test case for the changes in city code.