Council continues public hearing on loosening backyard chicken rules to August

The City Council voted to continue a public hearing on a proposed amendment to the municipal code that would remove a 20,000-square-foot lot-size restriction and allow as many as 12 hens on single-family residential properties.

Staff described the proposed draft ordinance as reversing a 2004 restriction and returning to a pre-2004 rule that allowed up to 12 hens on residential lots (roosters would remain prohibited). The item prompted extended public comment and council discussion about past experience: the council recalled a 2000 experiment that expanded hen allowances and a later rollback after enforcement complaints.

Public commenters urged humane standards and neighborhood safeguards. Doyle Morrison (public speaker) said the number of hens should be proportional to the dedicated enclosure size, not simply lot acreage. Councilmember Rodriguez, who brought forward the policy request, said the change would reconnect residents to food sources and support urban agriculture. Other council members cautioned about enforcement burdens and asked for comparative policy research. Staff agreed to return with a focused report — including examples from other urban cities, recommended lot-size thresholds (council discussed interim numbers such as 6–8), and practical enforcement options — and to continue the hearing to the council meeting in August.

The council voted unanimously to continue the public hearing and requested staff return with a refined proposal and data about other cities’ rules and enforcement experiences.