The Mathews County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors will hold a joint public hearing on a livestock ordinance at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the historic courthouse.

If enacted, the ordinance would establish minimum required acreage for the keeping of horses, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and other animals for private use or enjoyment in the Rural and Residential 1 and 2 districts.

The minimum acreage that would be required for horses and cows is one acre per animal.

One acre per five animals would be required for sheep, goats and pigs, while any livestock not specifically mentioned would require one acre per animal.

No minimum acreage would be required for poultry.

All grazing areas would have to be outside of the Chesapeake Bay Resource Protection Area and surrounded by secure fencing.

The ordinance would also require minimum setbacks for stables, barns, and other structures of 100 feet in front and rear yards and 50 feet on side yards.

The keeping of horses for commercial purp...