Council tables chicken ordinance after debate over permits, coop sizes and HOA limits

Councilmembers debated proposed changes to the city’s animal ordinance that would allow backyard hens and specifically regulate coops, pens and honeybees.

Community Development staff proposed allowing up to five hens per lot, a maximum coop of 100 square feet and a minimum pen area of 10 square feet per chicken, with no roosters permitted and no free‑ranging allowed. Beekeeping would be permitted consistent with state regulations. Because the proposed approach includes a conditional‑use review and site inspection, staff recommended permitting to ensure coops meet setback and size rules and to provide an enforcement pathway.

During public comment, Richard Ross (saying he is an HOA president) and other speakers noted that many planned‑community HOAs already ban chickens; Ross supported permitting and enforcement but said HOAs will continue to restrict chickens in many subdivisions. Council members questioned whether it is appropriate to require residents to obtain a permit for what some called a low‑cost personal use and whether the permit fee should be minimal to reflect inspection workload. Some councilmembers favored handling complaints reactively (enforcement when neighbors complain) while others favored a proactive permit system for clarity and inspection.

After extended discussion about coop sizes, permit costs (staff suggested a typical conditional‑use fee of about $120) and enforcement mechanisms, the council decided to table the item for further refinement and directed staff to return with clarifications on fee levels, permit process and the relationship to HOA private restrictions.