Wabash City Council approves first reading to allow homing and racing pigeons

The Wabash City Council on July 27 voted to approve on first reading Ordinance 102026, which amends chapter 6 of the Wabash City Code (section 6-16) to allow the keeping of homing and racing pigeons under new restrictions.

Councilman Terry Brewer moved to approve the ordinance on first reading, stating, “I’ll push to approve your order number 102026 on 1st reading.” Council discussion before the vote focused on limiting nuisance impacts: one council member summarized research showing owners typically need about 24 birds because “not all of them will home” and noted predators and weather losses. The proposed ordinance includes setback requirements intended to prevent large concentrations of birds immediately adjacent to neighbors’ living spaces.

Supporters said the change responds to a resident inquiry and aims to provide clear rules where the code was previously silent. A council member described the initiative as a local, controlled approach: “So we the ordinance includes some setback requirements and things like that so that, hopefully, they won't be a nuisance to neighbors.” Another speaker noted that racing requires opponents to compete against — a practical point for anyone considering racing pigeons.

The clerk called a roll vote; Pilgrim, Brewer, Shoney, Dylan, Byros, Bernstein and Coyne voted aye, and the ordinance passed its first reading. The council did not record any no votes on the first reading. Further readings or additional public hearings were not specified at the meeting.