Outcomes

of Ordinance 2013-415
At One Year from Inception
Bill 2013-415 was introduced on June 25, 2013 to amend Ordinance Code Chapter 656 Zoning Code
to allow hens to be kept on single family residential lots as a permitted use, and to require a shelter for
such hens. Roosters are only permitted in AGR or RR-Acre zoning districts. The new paragraph provides
that it is unlawful to allow chickens to run at large on public property or upon private property other
than the owners.
This was to be a pilot program to issue up to 300 permits and then sunset after two years. Potential
issues were raised about the program including odors, noise, rodents, location, property values,
unwanted or unproductive hens, and hens getting loose, Code Enforcement, and Animal Care and
Control.
This bill was signed into law on November 25, 2013.
During this first year of the program all 300 potential permits have been issued.
Nikki Harris, Chief of Animal Care & Protective Services, reported 28 chicken complaints in 2013. In
2014, the pilot resulted in an approximate 25% increase in chicken complaints broken down as
follows:
Provided Affidavits

Dead on Arrival

Gone on Arrival

11

Impounded

10

Met with Complainant

13

Called Complainant

Referred

13

Set Trap

Unfounded Complaint

Mailed Written Warning

However, none of these complaints resulted in enforcement action.

Municipal Code Compliance Division received 148 complaints during the period October 1, 2013 to
present, broken down as follows:

Warnings Citations
Issued

16

Violation Complied from

Warning

16

Notice Posted

15

No Violation Observed
Permitted Address

114
3

Copies of the report as well as copies of the complaints on permitted addresses are attached. Again,
none of these complaints resulted in enforcement action. Further, there has been no enforcement
overlap between these two divisions.
In conclusion, we believe that the pilot program would be deemed a success. It has worked well without
problems with the initial concerns raised and no permit holders have been cited.
We will, of course, continue to monitor the situation until the completion of the pilot program.