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Resident urges council to revisit city chicken ordinance, council asks staff to research
Summary
At the April 13 special meeting, Earlham resident Alec Keck asked the council to consider allowing 4–6 hens (no roosters) with setbacks and secure housing similar to nearby towns; the council asked staff to research and report back next month.
Alec Keck, a resident who spoke during the public forum at the Earlham City Council’s April 13 special meeting, urged council members to reconsider the city’s livestock regulations to allow backyard hens.
Keck told the council the issue was last considered in 2020 and asked whether Earlham could follow models used in nearby Carlisle and Adel that permit four to six hens, prohibit roosters, and require secure coops and setbacks from neighbors’ properties. Council members asked staff to research ordinances in other cities and to return with recommendations at next month’s meeting.
Why it matters: Changes to local livestock ordinances affect residents’ ability to keep small backyard flocks, neighborhood nuisance rules and code‑enforcement responsibilities. Council did not take a vote; staff research and future hearings were requested.
What’s next: Council directed staff to gather examples and bring information to the next regular meeting for further discussion.
