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Council directs staff to draft ordinance easing backyard‑chicken limits to 1 per 1,000 sq. ft., max 12
Summary
After public comment and council discussion, staff were asked to return with an ordinance that changes Lebanon’s code to allow one chicken per 1,000 square feet up to a 12‑chicken maximum without a permit; higher counts would require an approval process.
Lebanon City Council on March 12 directed staff to prepare an ordinance to change the municipal code on fowl: councilors favored revising the current one‑chicken‑per‑2,000‑square‑foot rule and the six‑chicken default limit. Under the direction, the draft ordinance will increase permissive backyard chickens to one per 1,000 square feet of lot area with a maximum of 12 chickens allowed without a special permit; owners who wish to exceed that threshold would need to seek city approval under an existing permit pathway.
Why it matters: Several residents addressed the council in favor of more permissive backyard‑chicken rules. Speakers said modestly higher bird counts help household food resiliency and are unlikely to materially increase enforcement burdens. Staff and councilors noted that the city has had few chicken complaints in recent years and asked staff to include complaint and enforcement metrics in future annual reports.
What the council asked staff to do: Draft an ordinance changing the code as described (1 per 1,000 sq. ft., maximum 12), keep a complaint-driven enforcement approach (no permitting for allowable numbers), and return with the ordinance language at the next meeting cycle. Council asked staff to include an annual tally of animal complaints in regular reporting.
Public comment: Proponents argued the proposed increase is small, would not create widespread nuisance, and would help households producing eggs. Staff and the police said existing complaints have been rare and generally related to maintenance problems or odors; code enforcement will respond if standards are violated.
Next steps: Staff to return with proposed amendment to Lebanon Municipal Code Section 6.16.001 in April for formal consideration and adoption procedures.
Ending: Council framed the action as a measured local adjustment to existing rules, balancing neighbor concerns and household-level food production.
