Council approves narrower rules to allow backyard hens with limits and permit cap

Green City Council adopted an ordinance on May 27 that amends the city’s code on keeping chickens, lowering the minimum lot size required to keep hens and setting permit and nuisance controls.

The ordinance reduces the minimum lot-size threshold cited in the current code from 2 acres to 20,000 square feet (roughly 0.45 acres) and establishes tiered limits on hens by lot size; for example, the draft sets a limit of six hens for lots between roughly 2,000 square feet and 1 acre and increases allowed hens for larger lot-size categories. The ordinance also adds setback requirements — as described in committee: a 100-foot setback from adjacent property owners and a 20-foot setback from a property line — and requires annual inspections by the zoning department. Council members said a 100-permit cap and an annual inspection requirement were included to limit scale and permit enforcement.

Councilman Spate, the ordinance sponsor, said the change was prompted by a citizen petition and public comments and described the measure as allowing residents to “provide a healthy, sustainable food source at home.” "To recap this very long process we've been through... Christina Gardner... started an online petition," Spate said during the planning committee discussion.

Opponents and cautious members raised concerns about neighbor conflicts and changes to expectations from owners who bought property under older rules. Councilman Miller said reducing the minimum lot size "felt very aggressive" and worried the change could create disputes between neighbors. Councilman Neugebauer noted prior reductions in minimum acreage over the years and said he believes a 2-acre standard had worked; he supported the amended code but expressed reservations.

The measure also removed a proposed absolute HOA exclusion and instead treats HOA properties consistently with other parcels; proponents said that approach treats residents equally while opponents said the change raised anxiety among HOA boards. The ordinance passed 4–2 (adopted as amended twice). The transcript does not record the mover and seconder for the final adoption motion.