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Council denies backyard‑chicken exception; keeps six‑bird limit
Summary
After public comment and council discussion, Manchester denied a request for a nine‑chicken exemption and voted to retain the six‑chicken limit in its ordinance, citing fairness and the risk of precedent.
The City Council voted to deny a resident’s request for a special exemption to keep nine chickens and affirmed the city’s existing six‑chicken limit for residential lots.
Eric Baski, who spoke during public input, asked the council to allow him to keep nine chickens, saying he was unaware of a prior meeting where the limit was discussed and disputing that his chickens caused neighborhood problems. He said: “I was not aware of that meeting ... I was not able to speak at that one. And I'm requesting today that I can keep all my chickens that I have.”
During discussion, council members emphasized that six chickens is a commonly adopted urban standard and that granting one exception could encourage further requests. One councilmember said neighbors’ conduct, not animals, can drive complaints but expressed reluctance to set a broad exception. After debate, a motion to stick with the current six‑chicken ordinance passed on recorded votes with council members (including Brian, Marian, Joe, Bill and Linda) answering yes.
The council noted that livestock remains prohibited except by special exception from the council, and discussed reviewing other ordinance provisions (such as whether neighbor consent should be required) at a later date.
What’s next: The denial preserves the six‑chicken limit; any future requests for wider allowances would require council consideration or an ordinance change.
