Council approves ordinance allowing up to three hens on half-acre lots; no roosters

The Minnetrista City Council on May 19 approved Ordinance No. 499 amending Chapter 11 of the city code to allow residents who own at least one-half acre to keep up to three hens; roosters remain prohibited.

David Abel, community development director, summarized the draft ordinance: "They did attach ordinance number 499 as part of your staff report this evening. That captures the specific language ... allowing 3 hens on residential lots that are at least 1 half acre in size." Abel said the draft requires hens be kept in a fully enclosed, fully contained, rodent-free environment as the basis for the exemption to the farm-animals chapter.

Council members discussed health and enforcement risks, homeowner-association restrictions and practical enforcement. One council member noted public-health guidance about avian influenza and cautioned about backyard flocks; other council members said neighboring cities report few complaints and suggested the city could revisit the ordinance after 12 months if problems arise.

Staff said homeowners associations can be more restrictive than city code and enforcement would generally begin with a neighbor complaint; inspectors would seek voluntary access to count birds and inspect enclosures. Council members acknowledged enforcing setbacks and screening could be difficult without property access.

The motion to approve the ordinance passed 3-2. The council recorded three votes in favor (Mayor Lisa Whalen, Council Member Claudia Lacey and Council Member Brian Goveran) and two opposed (Council Member Kathleen Refkin and Council Member Peter Vickery). The council discussed publishing the ordinance by title and summary.

Why it matters: The ordinance creates a limited, regulated pathway for small-scale backyard poultry for qualifying properties while keeping roosters prohibited and allowing HOAs to remain more restrictive.