Bellbrook council adopts ordinance allowing small livestock on single‑family lots with rules for permits, setbacks and manure

Councilman Logan Ashley presented and the Bellbrook City Council adopted Ordinance 2025‑O‑12 on Aug. 25, 2025, amending Article 18 of the Bellbrook zoning code to add section 18.41, which allows residents to keep “small livestock” on single‑family residential lots under specified conditions.

The ordinance creates a zoning permitting requirement, sets density limits, prescribes animal shelter and setback standards, and forbids commercial sales of animal products from residential properties. The council adopted the ordinance after a public hearing and roll‑call vote; the motion carried on a unanimous vote.

The new section requires a zoning permit before keeping small livestock and restricts the principal use of the lot to a single‑family dwelling. Density limits in the ordinance set a maximum of six small livestock animals on lots smaller than 1 acre and up to 12 animals on lots of 1 acre or larger; the code allows a temporary transition period when changing stock with no more than an additional half of the…