Poultry people, the time has come to share your thoughts on a proposed backyard chicken by-law.
Last July, the Municipality of West Nipissing broached the topic of allowing chickens in residential backyards. At that time, the Municipal Clerk, Melanie Ducharme, told council that “we get queries all the time,” from residents who want a coop of their own.
During that July meeting, council agreed to look further into the matter, and reach out to the public for consultation. See, many of those calls and notes to the municipal office came from the pro-chicken contingent, and council wanted to ensure the other side – those against backyard chicken shacks – had a chance to be heard as well.
That time is now.
See: West Nipissing residents getting chicken?
Staff are adding a survey to the municipal website as early as this week to hear from residents. Citizens are also encouraged to send their thoughts on the topic to the office as well, care of the Municipal Clerk.
There has been work on the chicken front, as staff have been looking into other municipal by-laws for research. It was noted that for most municipalities, the process usually began with public consultation. An idea that sat well with West Nipissing councillors.
“People are welcome to provide information as to their feelings on the matter,” Ducharme emphasized during Tuesday’s council meeting. “By having an idea of what the general consensus is, council can then more forward, or not, with a by-law.”
Currently, chickens are fine in rural and agricultural zones. This possible by-law would directly address keeping chickens in urban areas, your neighbour’s backyard on William Street, for example.
Several municipalities in Ontario have by-laws allowing for backyard chickens, including Kingston, Niagara Falls, Caledon, and Brampton. Add Kitchener to that list, Newmarket, and the Township of Russell. Toronto held a trial program, but decided to put the Urban HensTO program on hold until 2025 for fear of avian flu.
Most by-laws are similar, usually limiting the number of chickens to three or four. Hens are key, as roosters are usually excluded from the backyard life. There are regulations on coop size, how far to keep them from fences, and most municipalities require a permit. Kitchener charges $54 for one, for perspective.
The by-laws usually contain a section asking for the consent of your neighbours. If your next-door neighbour signs off, the chicken can come home to roost.
However, the chicken’s future is wide-open in West Nipissing, and now’s the time to have your say.
David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
