CENTERVILLE -- Centerville is considering increasing the number of chickens allowed in single-family residential areas.
The city council amended its zoning text to allow animals and fowl for recreation and family food production (e.g. rabbits and chickens) about a year ago. Up to six chickens are allowed in single-family zones, which comprise roughly 80 percent of the city area.
Community Development Director Cory Snyder said a request was made by a local resident to allow rabbits and chickens in certain zones for family food production. That person wants to have the number of allowed chickens increased.
The planning commission is examining this request, which is expected to be on its agenda Wednesday for consideration and approval.
Right now, chickens and rabbits are allowed in residential areas by permit. Only nine permits were pulled last year.
"This has been a new trend over the last couple of years," Snyder said.
Prior to making it legal to have chickens, he said, people were already raising some in their yards.
"We had complaints on and off for years," he said.
After one permitted resident brought the request forward to have the number of allowed chickens increased, the council asked that the issue be looked into. Snyder explained that the number of allowed chickens was debated when the ordinance was first instituted.
Now the number will be evaluated again to see if there is a need to increase it.
"Some people just feel they need to be allowed more," he said. "Maybe it is not enough eggs or roasting chickens for people. This is a limited review of whether to raise the number."
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