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Commission begins drafting rules to allow backyard chickens on smaller lots; no ordinance yet
Summary
At a June 17 work session the Planning Commission discussed amending Morgan City's farm-animal code to allow chickens on smaller residential lots, recommended standards (no roosters, coop setbacks, feed storage, containment) and asked staff to return with a draft ordinance.
Morgan City Planning Commission discussed draft changes to the city’s farm-animal ordinance on June 17 to accommodate requests from residents to keep chickens on residential lots smaller than the ordinance's 20,000-square-foot threshold.
Staff (Jake) told commissioners the City Council asked planning staff to study allowing chickens on smaller lots and return with draft ordinance language. The commission provided direction and several substantive suggestions but took no final vote; staff said it would bring a proposed ordinance back, likely in July.
Why it matters: The existing Morgan City ordinance limits types and numbers of animals by lot area (generally one listed animal type per 20,000 square feet, with additional allowances per extra 10,000 square feet). Several residents and some commissioners said that many households already keep chickens and want a legal framework for small‑lot ownership. Commissioners focused on nuisance prevention, containment and…
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