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Commission moves draft chicken and gardening rule changes to public hearing
Summary
The planning commission agreed May 13 to send a revised zoning text amendment clarifying that gardening and up to six female chickens apply only in residential zoning, prohibit roosters in residential zones and set a one‑acre minimum, with a public hearing set for June 10, 2026.
Rockbridge County planning staff presented a cleanup to the county’s gardening and backyard‑chicken rules on May 13, and the commission voted to send a tweaked text amendment to public hearing on June 10.
Staff explained that a 2011 change extended gardening and the keeping of up to six female chickens to "any zoning district allowing residential uses," which unintentionally included agricultural zoning. The proposed correction limits the exemption to residential zoning districts, maintains a one‑acre minimum in R‑1/R‑2 and reiterates that roosters are not allowed in residential districts. Staff said the drafting change is intended to correct the unintended application of residential limits to agricultural zones and to avoid conflicts with the Right to Farm Act.
Commissioners discussed whether a zoning permit should be required and raised enforcement questions about terms such as "nuisance" (odor, noise, drainage) and who would enforce them. One commissioner said enforcement of such standards typically proceeds by complaint. Staff indicated it would rework the permit language as needed prior to public hearing.
David Whitmore moved to send a tweaked version of the gardening and chickens text amendment to the June 10 meeting for public hearing; Adam Sandridge seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
Next steps: staff will refine the language clarifying where the rules apply and how enforcement will be handled, publish the public hearing notice and present the amendment at the June 10 meeting.
