Planning commission schedules public hearing on draft rules for backyard chickens in residential zones

Rockbridge County staff presented a draft zoning text amendment to Section 504.00 that would explicitly confine the existing gardening and chickens provisions to Residential zoning districts. The existing rule—allowing up to six female chickens exempt from zoning permit requirements with a one‑acre minimum, no roosters, setback requirements and containment—has been in place since a 2011 amendment; staff said the language as currently written could be read to apply broadly to any zoning district and conflict with the Right to Farm Act.

Secretary Christopher Slaydon read the existing language and the proposed residential‑only language. He said staff were considering whether to remove the phrase referencing a "zoning permit" because the County does not have a specific formal permit process for keeping chickens. County Attorney John Dryden warned that enforcement is a practical concern and that the Right to Farm Act constrains the County’s ability to regulate animal numbers or types on agriculturally zoned parcels; the County can, however, require setbacks for agricultural structures in agricultural zones.

Commissioner Anthony Subrizi asked whether lots in agricultural or transitional zones might be small and whether changes of district naming (e.g., removing 'agriculture' from a zone name) could affect enforcement. Commissioners agreed some amendments will be driven by state law changes effective July 1, 2026–27 and by workload. At 8:04 p.m., Commissioner David Whitmore moved and Commissioner Adam Sandridge seconded scheduling a public hearing for a slightly amended draft; the motion passed unanimously.

Staff said the County would continue to refine draft language and noted that enforcement of backyard chicken rules in residential zones is often complaint‑driven.