City of Green holds public hearing on proposed backyard-chicken ordinance

The City of Green City Council opened a public hearing Tuesday, May 13, 2025, on ordinance 2025-2006A, which would amend Section 157.062 of the city code to change rules for animal husbandry and allow limited backyard chicken keeping on smaller parcels. Councilman Davidis presided over the hearing and explained that council rules prohibit voting on the night of a public hearing, so any vote will be deferred to a future meeting.

The proposal, introduced and explained by Councilman Justin Spate, would reduce the minimum lot size now required for keeping chickens and set tiered hen limits tied to parcel size. "Our proposal would take that down to 20,000 square feet," Spate said, explaining that 20,000 square feet (about 0.45 acre) would allow up to six hens; one acre would allow eight hens; two to five acres would allow four hens per acre. The draft sets a 20-foot setback from property lines and, per the Summit County Health Department guidance cited by sponsors, 100 feet from any adjacent dwelling. Roosters would be prohibited on parcels under five acres.

The ordinance would require a certificate of use and compliance issued by the zoning division, capped at 100 permits per calendar year to allow a one-year pilot period of limited adoption. Coops must be enclosed and built of quality materials; the draft sets minimum enclosed space at four square feet per bird and eight square feet per bird for foraging areas. Chicken waste must be stored in enclosed containers or buried/composted; selling eggs, meat or other chicken-derived products and on-site slaughter would be prohibited for parcels below the larger acreage thresholds. The draft also states no variances will be granted and specifies criminal penalties for repeat offenses within one year (a minor misdemeanor under the draft language).

Petition organizer Christina Gardner, who led the community petition that prompted the ordinance review, told council, "Imagine a situation where every day you can efficiently dispose of waste food products and receive a fresh vitamin-packed, nutrient-dense, and free food product in return." She argued backyard hens can improve food access and nutrition and said permits and education would reduce nuisances.

Several residents who spoke supported the change for food access and educational value, including two Green High School AFJROTC cadets who described the convenience of fresh eggs for family nutrition. Supporters included Matt Hartong, president of the Summit County Farm Bureau, who offered the organization’s education resources. Opponents — including Kevin Grama, vice president of the Spring Hill HOA, and Robert Charles, an officer with the Meadowood HOA — urged retaining the current two-acre minimum, citing concerns about enforcement, property values, noise, predators and inspectors’ workloads. Grama said residents had asked the council to focus city resources on services such as potholes and snow removal instead.

Council members discussed HOA and deed-restriction language in the draft. Sponsors said the ordinance as written would exclude residences governed by homeowners associations or deed restrictions unless a lot meets the larger-acreage threshold, and that the zoning department would check plats and deed restrictions before issuing permits. Councilwoman Babbitt, a co-sponsor, said she supported retaining the HOA exclusion: "We can't let perfect be the enemy of good," she said, describing the draft as a conservative approach intended to balance interests.

No action was taken at the hearing. Council closed the public hearing and directed staff and sponsors to consider public input and any needed drafting changes before the next meeting, when council may take final action.