Clinton to vote on chicken rules

CLINTON — The Clinton City Council is considering an ordinance that would allow homeowners to keep chickens and other fowl in their yards.

The ordinance which has been under review by the city's Planning Commission for months, will be in front of the City Council during Tuesday's meeting, which begins at 7 p.m.

A public hearing on the ordinance is scheduled for 8 p.m.

The proposed ordinance would allow residents to keep chickens in six residential zone. The number of birds allowed depends on lot size, with 12 chickens allowed for half-acre lots, and six chickens allowed for quarter-acre lots.

To keep chickens, the ordinance would require residents to pay an annual registration fee to be determined by the City Council.

Other rules would be in effect if the ordinance passes:

Coops shall be located at least 25 feet from the property line and 35 feet from any dwellings on adjoining lots.

Coops shall provide at least two square feet per chicken or four square feet for larger fowl.

Coops shall be maintained and cleaned to prevent any odors detectable at the property line.

Feed shall be stored in rodent- or predator-proof containers.

No roosters shall be allowed.

At a recent Planning Commission public hearing, residents spoke 19-1 in favor of allowing chickens in the residential zones, and commissioners voted 4-0 to give a positive recommendation to the City Council.

— Joseph M. Dougherty