Amendments Made to Proposed Ordinance on "Chicken Keeping"

9/24/13 - While Howell City Council board members are still somewhat split when it comes to the issue of residents raising chickens in Howell, many community members are not. Officials discussed amendments to the proposed ordinance revolving around the ongoing issue of chickens within city limits, while also hearing approval from several citizens that attended Monday night's council meeting. Attendees that spoke encouraged allowing chickens, so long as their owners followed the ordinance that would be set in place. City Manager Shea Charles tells WHMI a decision from the board is in the near future. The amendments to the ordinance include the allowance of up to 6 chickens instead of the original 4, consent from immediate neighbors and the permit licensed for 2 years. The ordinance also prohibits the slaughter of the chickens and the sale of their eggs, making chicken keeping for private use only. A spreadsheet of other cities’ ordinances show that permits may be revoked if the city receives a certain amount of complaints but only half require the neighbor’s consent. A few board members were against keeping chickens within city limits, saying it has a direct impact on where they live. Despite the continued debate, Charles says the issue has been pursued because “people love chickens”. (DK)