Committee keeps six-hen cap in Lee's Summit; agrees to take chicken policy to full council for wider discussion

City animal-control staff recommended keeping the city's six-hen limit for backyard chickens, and the Community and Economic Development Committee agreed to send the issue to full city council for broader consideration.

Rodney Wagner, manager of animal control, told the committee the city's ordinance — which went into effect in February — allows up to six female chickens and has been a popular program. Wagner said the six-hen standard is commonly used in Missouri and noted Missouri House Bill 2062, enacted in 2024, limits HOAs' ability to prohibit such ownership and includes guidance of six hens per 0.2 acre.

"The chicken ordinance went in effect in February. Allows for up to 6 female chickens, and the program has been a huge success," Rodney Wagner said.

Some committee members urged a higher limit. Council member Pryor argued for increasing the allowance to 12 hens, citing practical issues at point-of-sale — she said some retailers require a minimum purchase of four birds — and lifecycle considerations for laying hens.

"I actually think not 8 chickens. I actually think 12," Council member Pryor said, explaining that retail minimums and the alternating laying cycles can make incremental increases more practical for residents.

Animal-control staff and other members cautioned that most municipalities that allow more than six hens also require larger minimum lot sizes, special permits or other restrictions to address noise, odor and animal-welfare concerns. Staff noted Kansas City's rules are different (a 100-foot distance rule was referenced) and that jurisdictions that permit larger flocks frequently require acreage thresholds of multiple acres or additional permitting. Staff also said the city does not currently require a permit for backyard chickens, which makes tracking the exact number of households with chickens difficult.

After discussion, the committee agreed by general consent to ask staff to present the issue to the full city council for additional debate and possible ordinance drafting. Staff said they would bring comparative research on other municipalities’ approaches, lot-size thresholds and permit regimes rather than immediately drafting multiple ordinance options.

Next steps: staff will collect comparative data and return the item to the full City Council for further deliberation. The committee did not change the existing ordinance at this meeting.