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Hoyt Lakes council considers allowing backyard hens; asks staff to draft options
Summary
Councilors discussed a resident letter about allowing laying hens, reviewed other cities’ permit and lot‑size approaches, debated limits (no roosters, coop setbacks, maximum birds) and directed staff to draft a model ordinance and invite interested residents to comment.
The Hoyt Lakes City Council opened a discussion prompted by a letter asking the city to allow laying hens in residential yards. Councilors reviewed sample ordinances from nearby cities that set lot‑size minimums, capped the number of hens, required permits and neighbor consent thresholds (for example, 75% of adjacent property owners), and prohibited roosters.
Speakers noted enforcement questions and potential public‑nuisance concerns, and discussed using a permit process with fees and conditions (coop standards, maximum counts, and mechanisms for handling complaints). The council moved to have staff research ordinances used by other communities and to involve residents who keep or want to keep chickens in drafting proposed language, and the motion carried.
No ordinance change was adopted at the meeting; staff will return with options for a future formal ordinance process and the required public‑comment and notice steps.
