Owensboro residents are one step closer to being able to keep backyard chickens, as the City Commissioners on Tuesday advanced an ordinance that would lift the long-standing ban and allow up to six hens per household.
Owensboro is moving forward with plans to allow backyard chickens in residential areas, as city commissioners on Tuesday held the first reading of an ordinance that would overturn a long-standing ban on keeping the birds within city limits.
The proposal would permit female chickens for personal use, primarily for fresh eggs, while continuing to prohibit roosters and other fowl. City officials said the ordinance also lays out strict rules for coops, setbacks, and permits to balance neighborhood concerns with residents’ growing interest in urban homesteading.
Currently, Owensboro Municipal Code prohibits the keeping of chickens entirely. City Manager Nate Pagan said the proposed change stems from increasing community interest.
“This amendment responds to requests from residents who would like to keep a small number of chickens for personal reasons only, primarily for fresh eggs, similar to what is allowed in many of our peer cities across the Commonwealth now,” Pagan said during Tuesday’s meeting.
The ordinance includes detailed requirements for enclosures and placement:
- Chickens would be allowed only in the backyard of single-family homes located in areas zoned for such use.
- Coops must be predator-proof, ventilated, odor-free, and provide at least 3 square feet per chicken.
- Coops must also be located at least 10 feet from property lines and 40 feet from any neighboring house or business.
- Chicken feed must be stored in rodent-proof and predator-proof containers.
Residents would be required to obtain a $25 permit from the City’s Department of Public Works. Permits could be revoked if violations occur, and Pagan said enforcement would be handled by the Property Maintenance Code Enforcement division.
The ordinance also respects existing homeowners’ association covenants.
“This would not override HOA rules or things of that nature that may be in place,” Pagan said. “So in short, this ordinance gives residents the opportunity to keep a small number of chickens for personal use, while maintaining strong protections for neighbors and neighborhoods.”
In an interview, Pagan added that the change is largely community-driven.
“I think that’s what started it, members of the community coming to meetings and asking us to consider it,” he said. “There were some people opposed, but a strong majority who weighed in were supportive.”
The ordinance marks the latest step in a process that began earlier this summer. In July, the City launched a public feedback portal and began drafting the proposed changes after noting that most comparable cities in Kentucky already allow backyard hens. Pagan also noted the current version includes only “minor changes” to setbacks compared to the draft presented months ago.
The full text of the ordinance includes language to ensure humane treatment of chickens and outlines penalties for violations, including revocation of permits and potential fines under Chapter 1, Section 1-11 of the municipal code.
A second and final reading of the ordinance is scheduled for September 16. If approved, it will officially legalize the keeping of backyard chickens in Owensboro under the new guidelines.
