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Council advances ordinance to permit backyard hens with permits, setbacks and training option
Summary
Edgewater approved first reading of an ordinance to allow permitted backyard hens (no roosters), establishing lot‑size tiers, setbacks, a permit and an educational training option that waives the $25 admin fee.
The Edgewater City Council approved first reading June 4 of an ordinance to permit residential backyard hens with regulatory safeguards including setbacks, maximum coop size and a permit requirement.
Chief of Police Charles Geiger presented the draft ordinance, explaining it would allow up to five hens on lots less than a half‑acre and up to seven hens on larger lots; roosters would be prohibited. The ordinance sets a 10‑foot setback from the property line, a 20‑foot setback from a neighbor’s dwelling and a 150‑square‑foot maximum enclosure. Permits would be required; a $25 administrative fee would be waived for residents who complete an online training course.
Council members and residents discussed waste management, neighbor notification and restrictions for rental properties and HOAs. Geiger said the ordinance includes storage and sanitation standards for manure and an inspection/revocation process that would allow code enforcement to suspend permits if violations occur.
Residents gave mixed reactions. Some said they already keep hens with no problems and supported regulation as a pathway to compliance; others urged neighborhood consent and expressed concern about roosters and noise. The council voted to approve the ordinance on first reading and directed staff to return with the ordinance and a staff plan for second reading and implementation details.
Next step: staff will prepare final ordinance language and an implementation plan for second reading, including inspection procedures and public outreach about HOA and landlord responsibilities.
