How does your community feel about chickens. The Board of Directors in the town where I live is currently discussing a ordinance banning chickens in the city limits. I have taken the charge to challenge them on this. Here is an open letter I just sent to the City Manager.
I am definitely FOR allowing chickens in the city limits. Not so much because I plan on raising them, though I have thought about it, but more because I fear this issue is the "canary in the mine". Across the country citizen groups and whole communities are adopting "green" movements. Community gardens are popping up everywhere, people are being encouraged to raise as much of their own food as possible. Community markets are being organized where local citizens can buy locally grown meat and produce or even sell their excess to others. (I know there is a group working on that here, it is an uphill battle but I wholehearted hope they succeed.) Because we are a rural community I think our town is in a unique position to capitalize on these movements that can really improve the quality of life for those who already live here, but also with this movement sweeping the nation, it will make us a place where others will want to live. If our Board passes an ordinance banning chickens in the city limits then one; they will remove a fundamental right citizens should have to grow and produce their own food, and second they will send a very negative signal about their own foresight in adopting a growing trend across the country. I heard that a comment was made that we wouldn't look progressive. I argue just the opposite. Allowing and even encouraging citizens to grow more of their food (including chickens) is progressive!
I read recently that as much as one third of the garbage produced is food scraps. My sister has chickens and she feeds all of her food scraps to her chickens. She gets free eggs and fertilizer to use in her garden and what the city gets in return is less garbage to put in their landfill. Just think what this could mean if a fair number of people raised chickens and/or were encouraged to compost. Less garbage for the city to deal with.
As you know I serve on the Planning Commission. We are often faced with building projects that don't conform to city code. My test on whether to allow it or not is always; one, will it adversely affect the neighbors and second, will it set a precedent the city will regret. If not, I will grant the variance every time. I think the board should use the same judgment in this case. Raising chickens in the city limits if they are taken care of will not adversely affect the neighbors. Chickens make no appreciable noise. In fact they are much quieter than most dogs. If they are taken care of there is not a noticeable smell. If they are not taken care of, my guess is the person isn't caring for their other animals either and that is a whole different issue. The other test; will it set a precedent the city will regret; given the direction communities are going, I will argue BANNING chickens will set a precedent we will regret.
BTW> New York City, Atlanta, St. Louis, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Seattle, Los Angeles, Little Rock, North Little Rock, and even San Francisco allow chickens within the city limits. No rosters. I think it is a sad paradox that urban areas allow them and our rural community is talking about banning them.
What are your local ordinaces concerning chickens?
