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Sunset planning commission sends proposed backyard‑poultry changes to city attorney after public comment
Summary
After public comments asking for higher chicken limits and to allow ducks, the commission agreed to use neighboring cities' templates (Clinton, Roy) to draft amendments: lower lot size thresholds, tiered animal counts, enclosed coops, and a proposed 10‑foot coop height. The commission voted unanimously to send the draft to the city attorney for a public hearing.
Acting chair Scott Stephenson on Dec. 11 said the planning commission would pursue an amendment to single‑family residential poultry rules after receiving public interest.
Why it matters: residents said the current code prevents safe backyard flocks and requested more flexibility. Staff and commissioners reviewed neighboring cities' approaches and agreed on a path that balances access, sanitation and neighborhood impacts.
Public input: staff read an emailed comment from resident Mariah Bavaro asking officials to “raise the ticket limit above 6, and please add ducks to be allowed in the animal list,” and to consider allowing 8–10 hens and 2–4 ducks. Resident Catherine Hunter told the commission that chickens are beneficial for “people's mental health” and food security, and urged case‑by‑case variances for lots that fall narrowly short of the size limit.
What the commission agreed to draft: commissioners said they would use Clinton City's lot‑size/spacing approach as a template (staff described Clinton's rules and the idea of allowing a baseline number of chickens with additional allowances by extra lot area) and adopt Roy City's enclosure language for coop standards. Specifically, commissioners directed staff to draft language that would: lower the lot‑size threshold so six chickens could be allowed on smaller parcels (staff used 6,000 sq. ft. as an example), allow additional animals at a fixed rate per additional 1,000 sq. ft., require predator‑proof, ventilated coops with a required attached run, and set a proposed maximum coop height of 10 feet (changing Sunset's existing 7‑foot height limit). Commissioners discussed but did not adopt allowing ducks at this time, citing standing‑water and mosquito concerns.
Fees and enforcement: the commission discussed keeping the current permit fee at $15 annually to encourage compliance, with the option to revisit fees later if enforcement resources increase. Staff noted Roy and Clinton require applications, neighbor notice and inspections in some cases; commissioners directed staff to include notices and enforcement options in the draft.
Next steps: the commission voted unanimously to have staff consolidate the suggested changes and send the draft to the city attorney to prepare for a formal public hearing and ordinance language.
The motion passed unanimously; the city attorney will prepare the ordinance, which will return to the commission for a public hearing and formal vote.
