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Tazewell County planners recommend code amendments to streamline backyard chicken rules and clarify recreational/storage building sizes
Summary
Staff presented amendments to the county code to make small chicken coops a permitted use in residential districts if they meet standards and to reconcile inconsistent language on permissible sizes for personal storage vs. recreational buildings; the board recommended forwarding the amendments to the county board.
Tazewell County planning staff introduced proposed code amendments to clarify rules for backyard chicken coops in residential districts and to harmonize conflicting size limits for personal storage and recreational buildings in agricultural districts.
Under the proposed amendment, residential lots from a quarter‑acre to 2 acres could keep up to six chickens as a permitted use if the coop and site meet setback and permit requirements; larger animal numbers would follow the county’s animal‑unit table and Department of Agriculture guidance. Coops may not be placed over septic components and must meet permitting and site‑plan requirements, county staff said.
Staff also proposed clean‑up language to resolve a conflict that previously allowed recreational buildings up to 1,200 square feet while personal storage buildings were described with a different size limit. The amendment consolidates the accessory‑building language so permitted and special‑use thresholds are consistent and clearer for applicants.
The zoning board reviewed the draft language and voted to forward the proposed amendments (including the coop standards and the recreational/storage clarifications) as a recommendation to the county board; one proposed administrative‑variance amendment was withdrawn for additional review.
