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Fresno County delays rooster ordinance after hours of public comment; ad hoc committee to be formed
Summary
After hours of public testimony from Hmong community members, poultry hobbyists and neighbors, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors voted to delay adoption of a proposed ordinance restricting roosters and to form an ad hoc committee to seek a revised draft.
FRESNO — The Fresno County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 7 postponed action on a proposed ordinance that would limit the keeping of roosters in the county and agreed to form an ad hoc committee to rewrite the measure after extensive public comment from both opponents and supporters.
Supervisor Nathan Magsig, who introduced the item for discussion, told the board he wanted to “solve problems with that ordinance, not create more problems.” He proposed delaying the ordinance and convening a committee of neighborhood residents, Hmong community representatives, feed-store owners and poultry hobbyists to produce a revised draft. The motion to delay and form the committee carried unanimously.
The proposal before the board would have added Chapter 9.11 to Fresno County Ordinance Code Title 9 addressing “keeping of roosters” and amended related environmental health fees. Supporters of the ordinance, including neighbors from the Squaw Valley area, said large numbers of roosters were causing noise and allegedly facilitating cockfighting. “Hundreds of roosters, 400 roosters crowing at all hours of the day … it’s not livable,” said Yahara Chacon, who asked the board to experience the noise firsthand.
Opponents, including members of poultry-breeding organizations and representatives of the Hmong community, urged the board to preserve exemptions for cultural and hobbyist practices. Alan Gallegos, president of the Greater California Society of Poultry Fanciers, said many breeders keep multiple roosters for legitimate breeding and exhibition purposes and warned the ordinance could end local poultry clubs and shows. “Most people who have roosters at their private property are not raising them for illegal fights,” Gallegos said.
Several speakers described the cultural and religious role of roosters for the Hmong community. Mei Vang, a Fresno Unified teacher and Hmong shaman, said limiting roosters would “interfere with our ability to fully practice and pass on traditions.” Mao Yang, president and CEO of the Fresno Center, asked the board to develop a process to engage the Hmong community and better understand religious and cultural implications.
Board members said testimony highlighted complexities that the current draft did not resolve. Supervisor Luis Chavez (who sits on the ad hoc committee) praised the public engagement and said the county never intended to harm livelihoods or criminalize cultural practice. Supervisor Buddy Mendez and others said they wanted to view sites in person and hear additional input before returning with a revised ordinance.
The board’s action instructs county staff to work with the county administrative office to convene the committee and refine the ordinance. Supervisor Magsig said he would coordinate meetings and invited interested residents and stakeholders to contact his office.
The board did not adopt the ordinance or set a new hearing date. Formal next steps and any revised language will be determined by the ad hoc committee and county staff.
