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Lake Bluff PCZBA recommends moving animal‑location rules into zoning code, clarifies backyard bees and chickens
Summary
The Village of Lake Bluff PCZBA on June 18 recommended that the Village Board adopt a text amendment moving locational restrictions for animals into Chapter 5 (residence districts) of the zoning regulations and to add wording clarifying that backyard bees and chickens are authorized under the accessory animal license (Article D of Chapter 9). The
The Village of Lake Bluff Joint Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals voted on June 18 to recommend that the Village Board adopt a zoning text amendment relocating animal-location restrictions into Chapter 5 (residence districts) of the zoning regulations and to clarify how backyard bees and chickens are handled.
Claire Gable, village staff, said the change follows a January 13, 2025 Committee of the Whole discussion and the Village Board’s February 24, 2025 approval of an animal code update. Staff proposed placing the location restrictions in the zoning regulations so the rules would sit alongside other accessory-structure standards and be easier for petitioners to find. Gable said the substantive language remains unchanged "except for acknowledging that backyard bees and chickens are handled through the accessory animal license process."
Commissioners raised a drafting question about whether bees were explicitly listed in the new language. Members discussed that backyard bees were referenced in the prior regulations and that the accessory animal license is authorized under Article D of Chapter 9 of the Village Code. Several commissioners suggested making the exception explicit and searchable, proposing wording such as "animal keeping of backyard bees and chickens is authorized" to reduce confusion for residents searching the code.
A motion to recommend adoption of the proposed text amendment with the agreed wording change passed on a roll call vote: Member Fisher, Member Russell, Member Danley and Chair Peters all voted "Aye." The PCZBA’s recommendation is advisory; the Village Board will take final action.
Next steps: staff will forward the amended text to the Village Board for consideration; if the board adopts the amendment, the Village Code will formally locate the locational restrictions in Chapter 5 and retain bees and chickens as exceptions handled by the accessory animal license under Article D of Chapter 9.
No municipal budgetary impacts or implementation dates were specified during the discussion.
