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Village Planning Commission weighs allowing up to 12 backyard hens, asks staff to draft ordinance
Summary
The Village Planning Commission discussed a proposal to permit up to 12 hens after a year of compliance, raise hen-house and pen-size minimums, and consider removing a local ban on egg sales; no formal vote was taken and staff will draft ordinance language for a future public hearing.
The Village Planning Commission discussed proposed changes to ordinance §82106 on backyard chickens that would allow more hens and update enclosure-size rules but did not take a vote.
Tom Peoples, a resident at 179 Elma Street, told the commission six hens felt insufficient for many households and urged allowing more, saying, “I feel like up to 12 after they've proved themselves is a good place to go.” The commission’s staff presenter outlined a staff concept that would (a) simplify lot-size thresholds so the minimum qualifying lot would allow six hens across the board and (b) allow a property to apply for up to 12 hens after one year of documented compliance with the ordinance.
Staff said permitting more hens would require larger hen-house and pen-area minimums; the draft concept discussed by the commission would double current maximums (hen-house from 25 to 50 square feet and pen area from 40 to 80 square feet) to match a 6→12 increase. A commenter with experience raising chickens told the commission the commonly recommended indoor space is about four square feet per bird; staff described their doubling approach as a practical starting point but said they were not chicken-raising experts.
Commissioners also discussed a provision in the existing ordinance that prohibits sale of eggs. Staff noted commercial sale and food-safety regulation are governed by state and federal authorities and questioned whether a local prohibition on sales is enforceable or necessary. One commissioner said “it’s not a good idea to have laws you can’t enforce,” and the presenter agreed the sale provision could be left in, removed, or left for clarification in the draft.
During public comment, Ricky Johnson (29 Centennial) asked whether a duplex could host separate permits that would amount to 24 hens on one property; staff responded that permit limits are applied by property and flagged the question as a point to clarify in the ordinance draft.
No formal action was taken. Staff said they will draft ordinance language based on the parameters discussed and post a public-notice hearing (zoning-ordinance update) for the next meeting; the commission indicated it would review the draft and then make a recommendation to the village council.
Next steps: staff will prepare a formal ordinance amendment for a noticed public hearing and return to the planning commission for a recommendation to the council.
