Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Bristol reviews proposed changes to rules for backyard chickens after resident complaints
Summary
City planner and residents discussed proposed amendments to the city’s code on agricultural uses on residential property, including reducing setbacks, creating a permit and annual fee, and giving the zoning administrator authority to require screening and inspect coops. No vote was taken; the item was heard as a public hearing.
Bristol city staff and residents discussed proposed amendments to Section 50-136 of the city code governing agricultural uses on residential lots, including backyard chickens, during a joint public hearing on Feb. 25.
City planner June McElwam said staff began reviewing the ordinance after multiple complaints in mid‑2024 that started as noise reports involving roosters and expanded into zoning appeals because the current text required a 100‑foot setback from every adjoining property line. McElwam told council that the 100‑foot property‑line requirement was impractical in Bristol because most residential lots are narrower than that and would effectively bar chickens citywide.
McElwam outlined staff recommendations: replace the current R‑district references…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
