Board continues public hearing on proposed changes to backyard chicken and duck rules to April 15

Planning staff presented proposed amendments to the York County Zoning Ordinance (section 24.1‑414.1) on March 18 that would add ducks to allowed backyard poultry, permit chickens and ducks on detached single‑family dwellings in Planned Development (PD) zoning districts, and remove the special‑use permit pathway for reduced setbacks for poultry enclosures (those requests would instead be handled as variances through the Board of Zoning and Subdivision Appeals). The Planning Commission recommended approval (6–0) at its February meeting.

Staff said the proposed changes do not alter the numeric limit on birds (the code would remain at one bird per 2,500 square feet of lot area up to a maximum of 16 chickens and/or ducks combined) nor the baseline setback standards (10 feet from property lines and 25 feet from another dwelling); the change is procedural for setback exceptions. Staff explained this removes a special‑use option that is inconsistent with how variance requests are normally handled.

Board members and staff discussed whether the BZA variance process provides sufficient neighbor input and whether the county should establish a minimum allowable setback (several supervisors asked for clarification that a homeowner could not effectively set a coop at a 0‑foot setback without BZA review). A supervisor suggested a 50 percent minimum (5 feet) as a threshold that would require board‑level review for smaller setbacks; staff said variances are public hearings and neighbors would have an opportunity to comment to the BZA.

The board opened the public hearing; speakers raised operational concerns and experience‑based questions. A member of the public described prior incidents of loose poultry requiring animal control intervention; another asked whether slaughtering for meat would be permitted (staff said slaughtering is allowed under the ordinance framework but noted the common practice in York County is to keep birds for eggs). A resident noted ducks and geese can be loud and raised concern about waterway pollution from poultry kept near streams.

Because a pending special‑use permit application to reduce setback for a chicken enclosure could be affected by a code change, staff requested the board continue the public hearing until April 15 to allow that application to be heard first. Supervisor Shepherd moved to continue the ordinance to the April 15 meeting; the roll call vote was unanimous (yes 6–0). The public hearing was continued.