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Council sets April 28 public hearing to consider increasing allowed backyard chickens to eight
Summary
Following planning commission recommendation, Reedsburg council voted to set a public hearing for April 28 on an ordinance amendment to increase the allowed number of backyard chickens from four to eight and to add an enforcement/penalty provision; council members also discussed removing permit fees and keeping registration complaint-driven.
The Reedsburg Common Council voted March 24 to set a public hearing on April 28 for an ordinance amending Reedsburg Code section 6-90-46 to increase the maximum number of permitted backyard chickens from four to eight and to include an enforcement (penalty) provision.
The planning commission recommended the increase after noting few complaints under the existing four-chicken limit. Commissioners said the number eight was proposed by a resident, Kathy Anderson, and reflects household egg-production needs. Council members debated enforcement, permit fees and whether removal of fees would reduce compliance; staff and commissioners described registration and enforcement as complaint-driven.
Why it matters: The ordinance change would affect residents who keep poultry within city limits and raises enforcement and registration concerns. Council members sought to balance easing restrictions for backyard poultry keepers against the need for an enforceable compliance mechanism.
Key council direction: The council approved setting a public hearing on April 28 and agreed to add a penalty provision to the ordinance before the hearing. Council member Knudson made the motion to set the public hearing with the enforcement caveat; Caney seconded. Council directed staff (Max and Brian) to draft the enforcement language and return it for the public hearing.
Details from the record: Council discussed removing permit fees (the packet showed previous fees of $35 initial and $10 annual) and making registration free to encourage compliance; enforcement would be complaint-driven. A council member noted occasional calls about roaming chickens and one complaint about a rooster; staff said there were few official complaints on file.
Quote: "I will make a motion to set the public hearing with the caveat of including a penalty provision. And have Max and Brian work on that," a council member said when making the motion.
Ending: The public hearing is scheduled for April 28; staff will draft proposed enforcement language and return the ordinance for public hearing and council consideration.
