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Harrison Township adopts short-term rental rules and allows backyard chickens in select residential zones
Summary
On July 22, 2024 the Harrison Township Board of Commissioners adopted three ordinances establishing conditional-use rules for short-term rentals (including Airbnb-style), a permitting and inspection regime for short-term rental properties, and rules allowing chickens as an accessory use in select single‑family zoning districts, after a public hearing and unanimous votes.
The Harrison Township Board of Commissioners on July 22 adopted three ordinances that change how short‑term rentals and backyard chickens are regulated in portions of the township.
At a public hearing before the vote, Solicitor Emily Mueller described the zoning ordinance (Ordinance No. 2019) that makes short‑term rentals a conditional use in the R‑1, R‑2, R‑3, V and S‑1 districts and a companion non‑zoning ordinance (Ordinance No. 2020) to create a permitting, inspection and enforcement framework. Mueller told attendees the zoning approach lets the township “control the location” of these uses. She confirmed that the zoning language covers Airbnb‑style rentals when an audience member asked whether the ordinance included “Airbnb” properties.
The Board also adopted Ordinance No. 2021 to allow keeping chickens as an accessory use at occupied single‑family dwellings in the same zoning districts, subject to criteria discussed during the hearing. Mueller said the ordinance would permit chickens where certain conditions are met, for example a minimum lot size referenced during the hearing (40,000 square feet as discussed), a prohibition on roosters, a ban on commercial use of the birds and specific standards for how animals are housed and maintained.
Resident Sonya Hantz of Natrona challenged the chicken rules as too restrictive for her neighborhood; she said she believed the ordinance violated her rights. Chairman Gary Meanor responded that earlier public meetings had shown neighbors who opposed chickens. The record shows the county reviewed the zoning drafts and returned no comments, which Mueller noted during the meeting.
All three ordinances were adopted on motions recorded in the minutes; the transcript records the votes as “all in favor.” The meeting record does not specify an effective date for the ordinances, and interested residents were told the draft text was available for inspection at the Township Office.
What comes next: Ordinance 2020 sets up a permit and inspection process the township can use to regulate short‑term rentals once zoning conditions are satisfied. The Board did not announce a timeline for issuing permits or the first inspections at this meeting.
