Cottonwood Heights staff propose smaller chicken-coop setback, new enforcement for permits

Cottonwood Heights planning staff on Monday proposed a city-initiated zoning text amendment (ZTADash25Dash004) that would reduce the minimum setback for chicken coops from neighboring dwellings from 40 feet to 25 feet and add an enforcement provision allowing the city to revoke permits after repeated violations.

The proposal comes after a public comment last August highlighted that some homeowners who wanted chickens had no location in their yards that complied with the existing 40-foot standard. Staff told the council that Salt Lake County health officials commonly recommend setbacks in the 25'035 foot range and that a 25-foot setback would be acceptable from a public-health perspective. Staff also said the current city code lacks an enforcement provision specific to chicken permits and that code enforcement recommended adding one to address noise, sanitation and odor complaints.

Under the…