Trustees set public hearing on updated chicken coop rules after months of drafting; fee and neighbor-notice debated

Trustees on March 24 set a public hearing for April 28 on proposed amendments to Chapter 112 (chicken coops) after an extensive work-session discussion about permit terms, inspections, and fees.

Board members discussed several specifics from the draft ordinance: a two-year permit term, biennial inspections, limits of up to six chickens, a prohibition on roosters, storage requirements for feed, and that coops must be located out of front yards. Trustees also debated whether neighbors must be notified when a permit is filed; some members argued the village should remove a mandatory neighbor-notification requirement to avoid infringing private-property rights, citing neighboring Amherst's approach.

Trustees discussed setting a fee to balance encouraging responsible ownership without creating an undue barrier. Suggestions at the meeting ranged from $25 to $300 for a two-year permit; a trustee cited a neighboring municipality's $300 fee as a point of comparison. The board did not set a final fee at the March 24 work session and directed staff to draft language that clarifies inspection timing and the conditions under which permits can be revoked.

The board formally published notice of a public hearing for April 28 at 7:30 p.m. to consider the amendment to Chapter 112. Staff said the draft retains requirements that ensure health and safety (rodent-proof feed storage, setback requirements, and code-enforcement authority to revoke permits on inspection).

Trustees also discussed enforcement logistics and whether code enforcement would carry out inspections or delegate them. The draft shared with trustees stated that the code-enforcement officer may revoke a permit for violations; the board directed staff to keep inspection and revocation language that requires prior written notice for property-maintenance issues.