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Council rejects ordinance to allow backyard chickens after planning‑commission split
Summary
After a Planning Commission 3–1 recommendation to allow up to five backyard chickens with a $15 permit, New Prague councilmembers cited nuisance, enforcement and court‑delay concerns and voted to deny the proposed ordinance on first reading.
The New Prague City Council voted to deny Ordinance 357, which would have allowed backyard chickens within city limits under a permit and setback regime recommended by the Planning Commission.
Planning staff summarized the proposed ordinance and the commission recommendation: the draft would have permitted up to five hens (no roosters), required a $15 annual permit, allowed coops up to 40 square feet and 8 feet tall sited in rear yards with a 25‑foot setback from adjacent structures and wetlands, and required removal of coops within 90 days of discontinuing chickens. The Planning Commission advanced the measure by a 3–1 vote and suggested consideration of an administrative‑citation option to handle nuisance enforcement.
Several councilmembers said they opposed allowing backyard chickens because of likely neighbor disputes and slow court remedies for nuisance complaints. One councilmember recalled voting against a similar change in 2016 and said local prosecutors and courts often do not move nuisance cases quickly. The council moved to deny the ordinance on first reading; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote.
Next steps: Ordinance 357 will not proceed to a second reading following tonight’s vote; staff will record the action in the minutes.
