Residents ask Chippewa Falls council to adopt ordinance regulating backyard chickens

Three Chippewa Falls residents told the Common Council on April 21 that odors and noise from a nearby property keeping backyard chickens, ducks and geese have become a neighborhood nuisance and asked the city to adopt an ordinance and permitting process.

Karrie Boyce, 310 Mansfield Street, told the council she is concerned about noise and noxious odors from a neighboring property that houses poultry and asked the council to consider rules that would limit those impacts. Jackie Peloquin, 316 Mansfield Street, raised similar odor concerns, and Kevin Geissler, 405 Mansfield Street, said he believes some residents are “abusing the spirit” of what had been allowed in the past and asked for clearer limits.

The public comments were made during the meeting’s personal appearances portion; the council took no immediate legislative action on the requests. No ordinance text, draft permitting process, or referral to staff is recorded in the April 21 minutes. The transcript notes only that the three residents appeared to express concerns and requested an ordinance.

Why it matters: backyard animal regulations can affect property rights, neighborhood livability and public health. The residents’ comments put the issue on the council’s record, creating an opportunity for council members or city staff to draft an ordinance or return with recommendations at a future meeting.

What’s next: The minutes do not show a motion, referral, or vote on drafting an ordinance at the April 21 meeting. Council members who wish to pursue regulation would need to introduce an ordinance or direct staff to prepare options for a future agenda.