Committee discusses new rules for chicken coops and small livestock in draft zoning code

Project staff presented proposed accessory‑use language that would create specific regulations for chicken coops and similar small livestock (ducks, geese, egg‑laying animals). "Right now, we don't have anything for chicken coops. They're just treated as accessory buildings," one staff member said; the draft would add setbacks, maintenance and limit the number of birds tied to coop size.

Committee members asked several clarifying questions. One participant noted, "Chicken coops are becoming very common now, and...we get a lot of complaints now," and asked for likely setback distances and screening. Staff said draft supplemental regulations would probably require larger setbacks from property lines — the presenter mentioned a working figure of about 25 feet — maintenance requirements, and limits on numbers of birds based on coop square footage.

The draft includes a permit requirement for new coops; existing coops would be grandfathered, staff said. The presenter also said the code rewrite will include language to allow a defined set of small, egg‑laying livestock within residential districts, with technical standards to be finalized before the public open house.

No formal action or vote occurred. Staff committed to refine definitions, finalize the accessory‑use language and add those specifics in the materials for the Sept. 22 open house and subsequent planning commission review.