The keeping of chickens in urban residential settings is gaining popularity across the United States. Advocates of backyard chickens cite more nutritious and flavorful eggs, nitrogen-rich garden fertilizer, and natural pest control among the benefits of backyard chickens. Opponents worry about noise, odors, and the potential to spread diseases such as Salmonella and Avian Flu. The debate to legalize egg-laying chickens in residential areas is making its way to local governments throughout the country, with city councils trying to balance the health, safety and interests of both residents and chickens.
In August, after debating the issue for nearly two years, the Sacramento City Council approved an ordinance that will take effect November 1, 2011. The new law will allow residents within city limits to keep 3 hens (no roosters!), if they obtain the proper permits. Each household keeping hens will pay a $15 permit fee, plus a $10 annual license fee per hen.
Under the new law, hens must be confined in a coop or pen in the back yard, at least 20 feet from any house on an adjacent property, and must not create a noise disturbance audible on neighboring lots. Slaughter of these animals is prohibited on residential property. Animal control regulations (see page 10) require the coops to be between 15 and 42 square feet, adequately ventilated, and fenced on all sides and top. A separate nest box is required for each hen, but coops may have communal roosts, feed and water. Regulations also require owners to properly store chicken feed, and keep coops clean and free of offensive odors.
Keep in mind that this law applies only to residential properties within Sacramento city limits. Each city within Sacramento County may also have its own regulations about backyard chickens. Rancho Cordova and Galt (see 18.16.030) limit chickens to low-density residential zones, while Citrus Heights (see 106.42) requires a lot of 10,000 square feet. Elk Grove allows up to six hens, if kept at least forty feet from the property line, and Folsom allows a limited number of small animals or fowl on residential property. Unincorporated parts of Sacramento County are governed by county regulations, which prohibit chickens on lots smaller than 10,000 square feet. Residents with sufficiently large properties must obtain a conditional use permit in order to keep roosters or chickens.
The new Sacramento law does not go into effect until November 1, 2011. Until that time, backyard chickens are still outlawed. It's not too early to start looking into your options though. There are many websites available, such as http://www.backyardchickens.com/ and http://www.mypetchicken.com/ that provide information about selecting the best breed for your needs, building coops, and caring for your chickens. This information can help you decide if raising chickens is a good fit for you and your family.
By Mary Pinard Johnson, Public Services Librarian
10/11