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Pleasant Hill council continues discussion of draft backyard-chicken rules; staff to return with revisions
Summary
Council heard a staff-led review of draft backyard-chicken language covering registration, height limits, biosecurity and animal-control procedures; no ordinance was adopted and staff will bring revised language to the next meeting.
City staff led an extended discussion of proposed regulations for backyard chickens at the Jan. 27 Pleasant Hill City Council meeting, outlining draft language and asking for council feedback; the council took no action and directed staff to return with revised language.
Staff emphasized the draft applies to single-family (R1) properties and that several clarifications had been made after public input, including a clearer statement that higher-density zoning (R2/R3) remains prohibited. The draft includes a property-level annual registration (January–December) with a fee to be set in the fee schedule; staff told council the fee amount is currently not specified.
Staff noted the draft defined a six-foot maximum measurement "from finished grade," but councilmembers discussed whether the code should instead specify an 8-foot maximum total height; council signaled a preference for an 8-foot total height standard rather than a six-foot wall plus roof allowance.
Public‑health and biosecurity concerns were raised by staff: intermingling birds across properties can increase disease risk, and the Missouri Department of Agriculture has recently restricted certain bird swap meets and auctions in some counties. Staff therefore recommended that the city avoid facilitating movement of birds between properties and instead allow animal-control pickup for stray birds. One council member clarified that if stray birds cannot be returned to an owner, current code mechanisms could require humane disposition; council members asked staff to make any humane‑disposition process explicit in the draft.
A resident who identified an address (205 South C) urged that small hobby keepers (one or two chickens) be exempt from fees while larger operations could face a charge; council asked staff to consider nominal, per-household registration rather than a per‑chicken fee.
Staff said the draft ordinance would return to council at the next meeting after legal review and revisions incorporating tonight’s feedback. No formal motion, vote, or ordinance adoption occurred.
