Rockbridge planners recommend clarifying rules for gardens and backyard chickens

The Rockbridge County Planning Commission voted unanimously June 10 to recommend a zoning-text amendment that would confine allowances for gardening and the keeping of chickens to residential zoning districts and update ambiguous language in the county code.

Staff member Neil read the current regulation into the record, saying the code currently states that “gardening and the keeping of up to six female chickens shall be exempt from zoning permit requirements in any district allowing residential uses” and that “roosters shall not be allowed.” Staff explained the proposed change would make that exemption apply only to residential zoning districts and would retain a one-acre minimum for keeping chickens.

Commission staff and members discussed removing the word “permit” from the exemption and striking the clause that chickens and gardening “shall not be objectionable by reason of odor, dust, noise, pollution, soil erosion, sedimentation or drainage,” because the phrasing has produced inconsistent interpretation. Chris (staff) told the commission, “we're recommending striking the word permit and just say zoning requirements in any residential zoning district,” to reduce ambiguity.

No members of the public spoke during the public hearing, and the commission then voted to forward the revised language to the Board of Supervisors. The motion was made by Commissioner Adam Sandridge, seconded by Commissioner Jay Melvin, and carried unanimously.

The Board of Supervisors will receive the commission's recommendation; staff indicated the updated language was distributed as a handout at the meeting and will be included in the public record ahead of the supervisors' review.