Rock Springs council continues review of proposed backyard-chicken rules after public health concerns

A Rock Springs resident urged the Rock Springs City Council on March 18 to ban backyard chickens, citing risks from avian influenza and unsanitary conditions, while city officials said a council-appointed committee is reviewing amendments to the city's animal-control ordinance and will return recommendations before the ordinance's third reading.

The resident, speaking during public comment, said that whether birds are confined or free-ranging, backyard flocks raise disease and hygiene concerns and argued the city should not allow them. "For the health and safety of our community, I urge you to not allow backyard chickens," the resident said.

The comment came as the council held the second reading of an ordinance amending Article 35 of the Rock Springs municipal code, titled "Humane control and regulation of animals." City staff told the council an ordinance-review committee had met once and received substantial input from animal-control staff, who expressed concerns about the department's ability to house and care for chickens under the proposed changes.

A staff member said, "The committee did have one meeting and had a lot of feedback from animal control. Overall, they were not largely in favor of amending the ordinance. We're going to have a second committee meeting later this month, and then we will have our third reading at the April 1 council meeting." The staff member added animal-control staff raised concerns about sheltering and resources if chickens were permitted under new rules.

Council members clarified that the committee's role is to gather more information and work with staff; the committee's discussions will be reported during a council meeting before any final vote. One councilor noted they had not participated in the first committee meeting but planned to attend the next meeting and said they would remain neutral until they had heard the committee's input.

No formal vote on the ordinance occurred at the March 18 meeting; the matter remains under committee review with a scheduled third reading on April 1. The public comment record and committee feedback will be included in that subsequent council discussion.

The issue combines public-health concerns raised by a citizen and operational concerns raised by animal-control staff. Councilors said they expected the committee to provide more detailed recommendations to inform the April vote.