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Council hears public concerns about allowing backyard chickens; staff cites Midland rules and lot‑size constraints
Summary
Council discussed a possible code amendment to allow backyard chickens; staff said Midland requires a minimum one‑acre lot and bans roosters, and several council members expressed reservations about odor, noise and enforcement in Odessa’s denser lot patterns.
A council member raised citizen inquiries about allowing backyard chickens within city limits. Council members and staff discussed the pros and cons during the March 21 work session.
Planning staff said Midland (a nearby jurisdiction) restricts backyard poultry to lots of at least one acre and prohibits roosters. Council members noted Odessa’s smaller lot sizes and more compact residential zoning, and several council members said odor, noise and neighbor conflicts are potential problems. One council member also said a fall in egg prices since the market peak reduced the urgency of a policy change.
No ordinance change was proposed at the session. Council members asked staff to research model ordinances, setback and enclosure rules, limits on the number of birds, and best practices for nuisance enforcement before any formal proposal is drafted.
