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Resident asks council to raise Folsom's backyard-hen limit from two to six and relax setbacks
Summary
Monica Merrill told the council that raising the city's limit on backyard hens from two to six and reducing property-line setbacks would improve food security and align Folsom with nearby cities. No staff recommendation or formal action was presented during the meeting.
Monica Merrill, a long-time Folsom resident, urged the City Council on Feb. 11 to raise the city's backyard-hen limit from the current allowance of two hens to six and to relax placement setbacks so coops can be sited more practically in yards.
Merrill said increasing the limit would "enhance food security and reduce vulnerability to fluctuations in egg availability and prices" and noted that nearby jurisdictions such as Rancho Cordova, Placerville and Davis allow six hens in residential zones. She recommended changing the current 20-foot property-line setback to a 5-foot minimum from property lines and a 20-foot setback from habitable structures on adjacent properties, citing Citrus Heights and Rancho Cordova as examples.
Merrill framed backyard hens as providing multiple community benefits, including natural pest control and organic fertilizer, and argued the change would promote self-sufficiency and sustainable practices. "Raising the hen limit to 6 will match the residential zone ordinances of neighboring communities," she said.
Public follow-up and council reaction A later public comment speaker suggested the city could use utility-bill mailings to remind residents about the upcoming neighborhood-traffic toolbox and to solicit feedback; that speaker also linked outreach to utility billing notifications as a way to raise awareness about city programs. Vice Mayor Raffel joked about the issue on behalf of chickens and Council Member Leary said she and the mayor would consider discussing potential code changes with appropriate staff and suggested the zoo could support an educational program.
No staff report recommending ordinance changes, financial analysis, or a council motion to amend municipal code was presented at the meeting. Merrill's remarks were received under public comment; councilmembers encouraged follow-up with staff for consideration in an appropriate legislative or administrative process.
