Residents cite grandfathered chicken rights as council denies one rezoning request

Several residents urged clarity on the city’s chicken rules during citizen comments, and the City Council ultimately denied one property owner’s rezoning request to allow chickens.

Grace dor Brown identified herself during public comments and said she has kept chickens for two decades and believes she was grandfathered under the city’s chicken ordinance. “I have had chickens for two decades and so I I apply for that um grandfathered in before the original ordinance,” she said. Another resident, Linda grman, told the council she has kept chickens for 23 years and referenced an August 6 email from a staff member named Brad indicating she was grandfathered.

Later in the meeting the council considered a formal rezoning request associated with Taylor D’s property. Planning and Zoning had denied a special-exception request to allow chickens, recorded in the P&Z notes as a 2–2 vote with the P&Z chair voting no. Staff explained RS1 zoning allows animal keeping by acreage: up to five “large animals” per acre and up to 20 “small animals” per acre, with small animals defined to include chickens and ducks. Staff also said the RS1 designation remains with the property rather than the homeowner.

Council member Rod moved to deny the rezoning request; Darl seconded the motion. The chair called the question, members responded by voice and the motion carried, denying the request.

The public comments and the council’s action leave an outstanding need for clear municipal guidance: residents who say they were keeping chickens before the ordinance want formal confirmation of grandfathering, and applicants seeking zoning changes face the council’s current interpretation of RS1 limits and the city’s process for special exemptions. The council did not set a new public hearing on Taylor’s request and took no further action to change the city ordinance at this meeting.