Perry council updates 'hobby chickens' rules, sets new backyard minimum and permit thresholds

The Perry City Council reviewed and held a vote on changes to the municipal code governing backyard poultry on Ordinance No. 2025-23.

City staff and the city attorney explained the ordinance would add section 4-104a to Chapter 4, Article 1, establishing a special-permit framework that would permit larger numbers of hobby chickens and ducks based on backyard size and siting. Key provisions described to the council included a defined “backyard” minimum of 2,000 square feet, a 15-foot setback from property lines, and a special-permit approval process that requires signatures from neighboring property owners — raised in this draft to 75% of touching properties for the special permit.

City Attorney Bryce clarified the ordinance leaves quail and pigeons unregulated and said the proposed rules were adapted from other cities (counsel cited Edmond as a model for setbacks and special-permit thresholds). Council members asked whether existing holders of small permits would be held in violation; counsel said he would not pursue charges against current, authorized permit holders and that enforcement would include office discretion for legacy permits.

Council discussed practical implications for narrow lots and coop/run placement, and staff noted mapping tools would be used to determine backyard area and whether an enclosure is considered “out of public view.” One council member noted that some elements make chickens both easier and harder to lawfully keep under the new rules — for example the special-permit pathway allows larger flocks but the 2,000 sq ft backyard minimum and setbacks constrain some small-lot owners.

A motion to approve the ordinance was made and a roll call was recorded (recorded votes in the transcript: Floodsville — No; Marshall — Yes; Rupp — No; Williams — Yes; Wortham — Yes). The clerk recorded the roll call; the council discussion included a reminder from staff that five votes normally are required to pass an ordinance. The transcript records the votes above and then proceeds to other business; staff did not record additional procedural detail about legal thresholds in the meeting transcript.

Next steps: The ordinance text will be codified as amended and staff will implement the special-permit procedures; enforcement actions against current, lawfully permitted owners were described as discretionary by the city attorney.