Workshop Item: 4 - Bryan K. Schafer, Planning and Community Development Director
Title
RAISING CHICKENS IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS
Background
The following workshop memo is in response to recent council questions about raising chickens in residential areas. The issue is whether the city zoning code should be changed to allow these pets/animals to exist and then to what degree should they be regulated.
Community gardening and animal husbandry has made a comeback as more and more people are attempting to buy local- as well as to avoid salmonella and other outbreaks that can be carried by mass produced fowl. There has been a drastic increase in urban areas of raising chickens over the last several years because of the urban agriculture movement. As a result sales for chickens and chicken coops have been sky rocketing.
Blaine's current ordinance states: Domestic farm animals, including cattle, horses, sheep, goats and chickens are only permitted in Agricultural (AG) and Farm Residential (FR) zoning districts
Why People Want To Raise Them
Chickens can- if fed the right diet and treated with the right temperament- lay an egg a day (frequently a 28-30 hour cycle) and also be used for their meat as a good source of protein. They are one of the few farm animals that can be raised in your backyard as they:
· Are easy and inexpensive to maintain in comparison to other animals/pets
· Provide eggs that are fresh, great-tasting & nutritious
· Provide chemical-free bug and weed control
· Manufacture the worlds best fertilizer
· Are fun & friendly pets with personality
Major Public Concerns
Noise: Research has been shown that hens often vocalize for a few minutes after having laid an egg. This noise does not rise above the level of two people talking. The "clucking" noise hens make cannot be heard if you are 25 feet or further away. Roosters pose a much more significant noise issue and for that reasons are usually not permitted.
Health: To catch bird flu you must come into contact with an infected bird's feces- currently there are no reported cases of bird flu on this continent. Salmonella can be avoided by thoroughly washing hands after handling chickens and making sure you cook the meat all the way through.
Odor: The average dog produces 12 ounces of solid waste per day where as chickens only produce 1.5 ounces a day.
Property Values: Some of the cities with the highest property values in the country allow chickens like Denver, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, and Portland (OR).
Predators: Many predators that people are concerned with already exist in urban settings, but having chickens will increase their appearance. If the coops are built in a proper manner they will be able to keep predators, rodents, and even some pests out.
Pro-Chicken Cities (And Their Restrictions)
· St. Paul: Permit with 75% neighbor approval, prefer 3 or less chickens.
· Shoreview: 4 Hens allowed in R1 and RE, no roosters. Birds must be maintained and housed properly.
· Osseo: There are no prohibitions against poultry keeping in residential districts in the city code or zoning ordinance, no roosters. Chickens and coops must comply with current zoning ordinances.
· Anoka: 4 Poultry/Fowl allowed but should be kept in coop for most of the day besides for exercise- fully enclosed.
· West St. Paul: No more than two chickens on any residential premises less than five acres within the City, except by special written permit issued by the Council.
· Hastings: May have up to 4 chickens, no roosters allowed. Chickens are not allowed to be kept on property that is less than 1 acre.
· Monticello: 80% of neighbors within 100 feet of property need to approve before permit is granted, $50 permit fee, and an inspection is required- No number restriction, roosters are discouraged.
***Cities that don't allow chickens in R-1: Coon Rapids, Lino Lakes, St. Michael, Brooklyn Park, Andover, Hugo, Woodbury, etc.
Chicken Facts
There are many different types of breeds available to be purchased besides the common golden chicken we see so frequently. The Australorp breed has feathers that are black with an emerald sheen. The Buff Orpington looks like a fat orange tea kettle, and the Ameraucana lays pastel blue or green eggs.
"A free-range egg has more body. It's firmer, it's considerably more yellow and it has a richer, almost buttery flavor on your tongue."
You can order chicks online or get them from a feed store, which sells a variety of chicks for $4 each. A 5-pound bag of chick feed is $5, and a 25-pound bag of adult feed, which will supplement the diet of three chickens for about 2 months, is $8.
Roosters aren't necessary to egg production.
Chickens live, on average, about eight years.
Discussion
· Does the City Council support allowing chickens in other zoning districts?
· What requirements/criteria should be put in place if they are allowed (see below)?
· Will selling of eggs or meat be allowed from the home?
· Who will be responsible for building/coop inspections, issuing permits (if any), and other regulations?
Possible Criteria to have chickens in Single Family Residential Zones (RE, R-1, R-1AA, R-1A, R-1B and Possibly DF)
Many cities with pro-chicken ordinances have restrictions in place. Possible choices for Blaine include:
· Number- limited to not more than 3 hens (no roosters allowed)
· Coop- (not to exceed 80 square feet)
· Coop setback requirement of 15 feet from property lines and not less than 30-ft from another home (no structure in front or side yards facing streets or homes), completely enclosed to prevent smell and sound, shelters to comply with accessory structure codes
· Chickens must be fenced (permanent fencing with fence permit) and not to be allowed to be "at-large"
· Possible permit system to have chickens with an associated fee (administrative-permitted use)