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Consultation has concluded
The Council of the Township of Brock wants to hear your feedback on the possibility of permitting chickens to be kept in back yards in urban areas.
The municipality's current By-law's prohibits residents in urban residential areas from keeping backyard chickens. Currently the bylaw states that only properties deemed rural may keep backyard chickens.
If changed, the by-law's could allow backyard chickens on smaller lots in the urban residential areas (Beaverton, Cannington, Sunderland), as well as hamlets.
It is anticipated that Township staff will bring forward a report to Council for consideration in early 2023, detailing the results of the public consultation and recommendations as to whether or not to advance the issue. Should Council direct staff to proceed with permitting backyard chickens in urban areas, additional consultation and public education would follow.
The issue of backyard or urban chickens has been considered by many other municipalities with varying results. Some municipalities choose not to permit chickens in urban residential areas, others have implemented pilot projects, while others have permitted hen keeping while imposing a variety of different restrictions. The Township is currently reviewing the possibility of a pilot project to permit the keeping of chickens in residential areas for the personal consumption of eggs.
Several items are being considered with regard to regulating the keeping of egg-laying chickens, including but not limited to:
Establishing regulations regarding the location and maximum size of the chicken coop;
Limiting the location of coops to the rear yards of properties with a minimum set back from property lot lines and the dwelling;
Regulating the minimum and maximum number of chickens, including minimum cleaning standards, food storage, chicken excrement storage and disposal, carcass disposal etc.;
Establishing a minimum age requirement of chickens (4 months);
Prohibiting the keeping of male chickens (roosters);
Setting standards to mitigate public nuisance, such as noise, odour etc.;
Establishing requirements to ensure the public health and safety of the chickens being kept;
Establishing the ability of Township agents to inspect properties with chickens to ensure compliance with the Legislation; and
Ensuring eggs are only used for personal consumption and not for sale.
The Council of the Township of Brock wants to hear your feedback on the possibility of permitting chickens to be kept in back yards in urban areas.
The municipality's current By-law's prohibits residents in urban residential areas from keeping backyard chickens. Currently the bylaw states that only properties deemed rural may keep backyard chickens.
If changed, the by-law's could allow backyard chickens on smaller lots in the urban residential areas (Beaverton, Cannington, Sunderland), as well as hamlets.
It is anticipated that Township staff will bring forward a report to Council for consideration in early 2023, detailing the results of the public consultation and recommendations as to whether or not to advance the issue. Should Council direct staff to proceed with permitting backyard chickens in urban areas, additional consultation and public education would follow.
The issue of backyard or urban chickens has been considered by many other municipalities with varying results. Some municipalities choose not to permit chickens in urban residential areas, others have implemented pilot projects, while others have permitted hen keeping while imposing a variety of different restrictions. The Township is currently reviewing the possibility of a pilot project to permit the keeping of chickens in residential areas for the personal consumption of eggs.
Several items are being considered with regard to regulating the keeping of egg-laying chickens, including but not limited to:
Establishing regulations regarding the location and maximum size of the chicken coop;
Limiting the location of coops to the rear yards of properties with a minimum set back from property lot lines and the dwelling;
Regulating the minimum and maximum number of chickens, including minimum cleaning standards, food storage, chicken excrement storage and disposal, carcass disposal etc.;
Establishing a minimum age requirement of chickens (4 months);
Prohibiting the keeping of male chickens (roosters);
Setting standards to mitigate public nuisance, such as noise, odour etc.;
Establishing requirements to ensure the public health and safety of the chickens being kept;
Establishing the ability of Township agents to inspect properties with chickens to ensure compliance with the Legislation; and
Ensuring eggs are only used for personal consumption and not for sale.