At its October meeting, the City Council reviewed a draft code developed by the City staff for regulating the ownership of chickens within City limits.
The requirements in the proposed code include the requirement for owners to partake in an educational seminar on backyard flocks so applicants can understand what they are getting into with regard to chicken care and life cycles. The seminar will cover topics such as how long chickens bear eggs and what to do when they stop. Participants will receive a certificate at the end of the seminar. They must sign a ‘Backyard Chicken Agreement’ that pertains to chicken welfare and if at any time they are found to be negligent, their permits will be revoked per this agreement.
All backyard flocks will need a coop and run with four square feet per chicken for the coop and ten square feet per chicken for the run. They are only permitted in the rear yard and must be ten feet from property lines and 20 feet from dwellings. Residents will also need to apply for a City Zoning Certificate as chicken coops and runs are considered structures and will have specific building requirements. Resident Christina Lawrence asked if the chickens would be able to free range if within a fenced in yard. City Manager Jim Wieprecht replied that they will have to be in an enclosed run and would not be allowed to free range.
Once a flock is established, owners will need to register it with the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) to receive an official registration card. Once the MDA sends back their registration card, the applicant must bring it to the City Zoning office within 30-90 days.
The Council agreed that the maximum number of chickens allowed per resident would be six; however, any residents with flocks already established will be grandfathered in and will be allowed to keep what they have with all new rules and regulations being met as well. Once their flock size decreases for whatever reason, they must adhere to the six-chicken limit.
Roosters will be prohibited, however, because all chickens look the same until around three months old, so owners will be given a currently undisclosed amount of time to remove the rooster from the flock.
Councilman James McCarron's biggest concern over the new chicken ordinance was "who is going to enforce it?" Wieprecht assured him that Darryl Hale, Zoning & Code Enforcement Officer, would be active in inspecting the chicken coops and animal control would be involved for inspecting the chickens themselves. He has been in contact with Carroll County Animal Control supervisor Dawn Kinna who offered her advice as someone who raises chickens. She gave some good pointers on the enforcement aspect.
Councilwoman Judith Fuller said that neighbors would be the biggest enforcers of the new ordinance saying, "if there’s a problem, the neighbors will tell you."
With the blessing of the Council, the draft code has been sent to the Planning Commission for their review and approval. The code change will then be the subject of a public hearing at an upcoming City Council workshop where the pubic can weigh in on the idea. Only when these steps have been completed, can the Council vote to formally approve the ownership of chickens within City limit.
