Council amends code to limit racing pigeons; setback reduced after debate

After debate about nuisance conditions caused by large pigeon coops in some neighborhoods, the Galt City Council approved changes to Municipal Code chapter 6.04 to regulate racing and homing pigeons.

Code Enforcement Supervisor TJ Gedati said the city’s current livestock/bird rules exclude racing pigeons and that the new language would expressly allow racing/homing pigeons only under conditions: coops must be kept sanitary, owners must be active members of an established racing pigeon organization, flights and training limited to daytime hours, and the draft capped pigeons at a maximum of 10 per parcel. Gedati said the city’s review found some existing cases with very large flocks (one cited instance of 100–200 birds) that created noise, odor, feathers, dead birds and attracted predators.

Council debated appropriate limits. Several neighbors testified about past cases with hundreds of birds, complaints of smell, feathers and increased wildlife. One resident with pigeon experience said training typically occurs away from the coop and racing losses can cause birds to fall in neighbors’ yards.

Motion and amendment: Mayor Farmer moved to adopt the ordinance as drafted but change the side‑yard/property‑line setback to 30 feet (instead of the initially proposed 50 feet). Council member Reid seconded. The motion passed 4–1 (Council member Rodriguez recorded a no vote). The adopted controls include a membership/registration requirement, sanitation standards and daytime training windows; the council directed staff to return with implementation details and to monitor compliance.