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Spring Hill approves tighter backyard-hen rules after public debate; amendment removing per-hen setback wins
Summary
After an extended public hearing and debate, the Spring Hill Board of Mayor and Aldermen adopted Ordinance 25‑18 (amending Section 10‑102 of the Municipal Code) on second and final reading. The board accepted several staff-proposed changes and approved a late amendment to remove the per‑hen incremental setback; the ordinance passed 5–4.
Spring Hill’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted 5–4 on Aug. 18 to adopt Ordinance 25‑18, revising the city’s rules on keeping backyard hens by amending Section 10‑102 of the Spring Hill Municipal Code.
The vote followed a public hearing in which neighbors and owners described both compliance and enforcement problems under the current rules. Speakers said the revised rules in the packet—minimum coop and pen sizes, a baseline 25‑foot setback from neighboring residences and limits tied to lot size—represent a compromise but left some residents concerned about enforcement and potential odor or runoff issues.
City staff and several board members emphasized that the packet’s primary protections are the 25‑foot setback and a prohibition on locating coops or runs inside building setbacks. Staff (Miss Sanders) told the board the per‑hen incremental setback included in the draft was based on a review of industry…
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