Resident complaint about racing‑pigeon loft leads council to schedule ordinance consideration

A Livonia resident asked council to limit the number of racing pigeons allowed in N2 residential districts after reporting that a neighbor constructed a 14‑by‑21‑foot loft and said he intends to house up to 80 pigeons. Council directed the law department to research municipal options and scheduled the matter for the regular meeting with a proposed temporary limit of 20 birds for discussion.

The petitioner, who gave the name Freya (last name provided to staff), said Michigan law permits racing pigeons as a hobby and that the Wayne County Health Department permit for lofts imposes requirements, including limits the county may set. The resident said the neighbor’s planned flock and the loft size raised concerns about noise, odors, disease vectors and property values.

Council members asked staff from the building and legal departments whether the city had existing regulatory authority or prior pigeon permits; staff said the petitioner had obtained a county permit and a city building permit for the loft, and that the law department would research local regulatory options. Council agreed to put a motion on the regular meeting agenda to consider adopting a numeric limit (councilmember proposed 20) and to request a law‑department recommendation prior to the regular session. The council also discussed whether any existing pigeon owners would be grandfathered and requested guidance from legal on compliance dates.

The council scheduled the item for the July 7 regular meeting with direction to the law department to return with a recommendation and possible ordinance language.