Can I keep chickens or other animals in Shelby Township?

On a typical residential lot, no. Section 4.60.A is blunt: no animals, livestock, or poultry of any kind may be raised, bred, or kept on any lot, except non-vicious dogs, cats, and other household pets not kept for commercial purposes. Keeping five or more dogs (six months or older) legally constitutes a kennel, which is only allowed as a special land use in the H-M district (Section 4.60.A; Section 4.58).

The farm exception: farms are a permitted use in the R-1, R-1-A, R-1-B, and R-1-C districts, but each farm lot needs at least 3 acres (Section 4.1). Horses follow their own math: 3 acres for the first horse plus one contiguous acre per additional horse (Section 4.60.B). How fully the farm exception overrides the 4.60.A animal prohibition on a qualifying 3 acre parcel is not spelled out in the text, so confirm your specific plan with Planning and Zoning.

Beekeeping is separately allowed with hive management rules: hives at least 10 feet from property lines and 20 feet from neighboring structures, a 6 foot flyway barrier when within 16 feet of a lot line, and proof of beekeeping training (Section 5.32.D; Section 5.32.C.6). Day-to-day animal care rules also live in Chapter 6 of the Code of Ordinances (Section 4.60.C).