(Audubon) Overall, surveys suggest thousands of municipalities across the U.S. now allow backyard chickens, and ordinances are trending more permissive as demand grows.
Last month, the City of Audubon passed an ordinance regarding the keeping of chickens. It states that residents are allowed up to six chickens, but no roosters are allowed within City limits. Poultry (chickens) raised and kept by private individuals for residential purposes on single-family lots located on residential property will be permitted under the following conditions:
Under the ordinance, no more than six chickens may be kept on a property, and they must be used solely for egg production to benefit the property’s owner or lessee. Tenants on single-family residential properties are required to obtain written approval from the property owner before keeping chickens.
Roosters are prohibited within city limits. Chickens must be secured in a covered coop during non-daylight hours. Coops must provide at least four square feet of space per chicken, be constructed from durable materials, and remain in good repair. Additionally, a fenced outdoor enclosure of at least 10 square feet per chicken is required around the coop to provide chickens with sufficient space to move about.
Both the coop and the fenced enclosure must be in the property’s rear yard, at least 15 feet from side and rear property lines and 50 feet from adjacent homes. On corner lots, the structures may be placed in the side yard if they meet the city’s setback requirements and distance rules.
Chickens and eggs may not be used for commercial purposes. The ordinance prohibits slaughtering chickens within city limits and requires that any dead chickens be promptly removed and disposed of properly.
To ensure cleanliness and safety, chicken enclosures must remain clean and odor-free. Chickens must always have access to feed and clean water, with feed and related supplies stored in a way that prevents attracting rodents, wild birds, or predators.
Violations of the ordinance are considered simple misdemeanors and municipal infractions, enforceable at the discretion of the Animal Control Officer.
The ordinance also repeals all previous provisions that conflict with these new regulations.
