Tualatin council directs staff to pursue a narrow code amendment to allow 'domestic fowl'

Council members spent much of the Aug. 11 work session discussing whether to expand the city’s chicken‑keeping rules to include other backyard fowl, prompted by a resident’s complaint about ducks.

City attorney and planning staff explained the legal history: a 2013 plan‑text amendment adopted narrowly written chicken‑keeping rules after extended public debate. “From what I can see from the legislative history…there was only one type of domesticated fowl allowed: chickens,” staff said, noting other fowl were not part of that earlier public conversation.

Councilors raised practical questions — noise, sanitation, enforcement and whether flightless ducks would behave differently than chickens — and whether changing the single word “chicken” to “domestic fowl” could be handled as a minor edit. Staff clarified it is a legislative text amendment requiring a 35‑day notice to the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development, Planning Commission review and a council public hearing. Staff estimated a streamlined process could take about three months to prepare draft language and run the required notices and hearings; an expanded public engagement process could push adoption toward February.

Council President Pratt moved for the most streamlined approach: initiating a planned text amendment to amend Tualatin Development Code (TDC 40.2101.A and corresponding Tualatin Municipal Code sections) to permit “domestic fowl” under the current chicken‑keeping standards, with minimum public noticing. Several councilors signaled support for that approach while one said she remains opposed. Staff said they will bring draft language back to the council and begin the formal legislative process if directed.

No formal ordinance vote occurred at the work session; the council provided direction to begin the legislative amendment process and staff identified the required steps and approximate timeline.