The City of Newnan council instructed staff to draft an ordinance to allow backyard chickens in certain residential areas after a lengthy Aug. 26 discussion that divided council members and residents.

The council packet and staff presentation listed potential regulations (setbacks, maximum flock size, prohibition of roosters, coop standards and HOA preemption). Planning staff said they had researched comparable cities and prepared the suggested provisions. After debate, a majority of councilmembers voted to direct staff to proceed with ordinance drafting; the voice vote was recorded as 6 in favor, 1 opposed.

Speakers raised recurring concerns about enforcement, neighborhood compatibility and homeowner association rules. One councilmember who opposed the move said the city would be placing the burden of monitoring and enforcement on staff for "the sake of a few who want fresh eggs," and expressed concern about adverse effects on property values and small lots in District 1 where the ordinance likely would not be permitted. Supporters said prohibiting roosters and prescribing setbacks and maintenance requirements would limit noise and odor problems and that the ordinance would provide a choice for residents on larger lots who want to raise a few chickens.

Planning staff responded to questions about lot-size limitations and explained that minimum width and setbacks (examples discussed included a 20-foot setback from property lines and a minimum workable lot width of approximately 50 feet in many layouts) would make the allowance self-limiting in dense neighborhoods and subject to HOA restrictions where applicable.

Council discussion touched on the ordinance's likely limited geographic effect, the role of HOAs (whose rules would supersede a city allowance), and the practicality of enforcement by animal control and planning staff. The council voted to instruct staff to work with the city attorney to draft a formal ordinance reflecting the discussed points; no ordinance text was adopted at the meeting.

The motion to instruct staff passed by voice vote, recorded in the minutes as 6-1. Staff will return with a draft ordinance for future council consideration.