Redmond City Council approves backyard chicken code

 Council approves Animal Husbandry (backyard chicken) code 6-2 (Carson and Cole voting NO).  A noted requirement is convenents will be honored and supercede the animal husbandry code.

Redmond City Council held a final study session November 7 on "Small Animal Husbandry" - commonly known as "Backyard chickens."  Their normal Tuesday meeting was cancelled for the Election.  Council plans to adopt  "Backyard chicken policy and code" on December 6, without any further study sessions.

After thorough discussion, Council consented to Chicken regulations.  The ordinance is expected to include the following code: 

• Mandatory registration.  (Permits, subject to land use requirements, are not required.
• Maximum allowable chickens decided by Residential zoning only.  Lot size is irrelevant.
• One Acre (R-1) and 1/2 acre (R-2) lots are allowed a maximum of 10 chickens (hens only).
• R-4 fand R-5 lots are the most common SFH lots in Redmond.  (4-5 lots/acre).  R-4 lots allowed a  maximum of 4 hens, R-5 allowed a maximum of 3 hens.  R-6 maximum 3 hen
• In R-8 lots chickens won't be allowed.
• Setbacks:  15' setbacks for adjacent property required with exceptions.
• Slaughter:  May slaughter 1 chicken per day on site.  More than 1 chicken must be slaughtered off-property in a slaughterhouse, farm, non-residential area. 
• Predators:  sturdy coop required
• City Small Animal Husbandry Code will not supersede Homeowners Associations (HOA). 
• No roosters

Councilmember Kim Allen was the proponent.  She ran the meeting and drove consensus.  Councilmember Hank Margeson had experience in Tacoma with backyard hens in his yourth and was considered a council 'expert.'  Hank suggested "no more than a handful of chickens," except for 1/2 acre lots.  He said "chickens should only supplement food, not feed a family of four year-round."  Councilman Myers suggested keeping the rules simple saying too many regulations will keep people from participating.  Councilmember Carson said his wife (who's a real estate agent) would immediately get chickens if she knew the ordinance was adapted.  Carson owns a 9,000 SF lot and  two dogs and two cats.  Margeson owns a horse and raised 3 hens as a kid living in Tacoma.  Mayor Marchione was present and quiet throughout the discussion.

Cole, Stilin, and Vache were openly concerned about chicken owners who mistreat or mis-manage their poultry.  Code enforcement was their big issue.  Apparently, the history of chicken neglect and nuisance in other cities is very low.  Cole ended the discussion stating he won't endorse backyard chickens on the basis of:  smell, noise, real estate, disease, predators, potential for harm to the animals.  His property is governed by HOA rules. 

Councilmember Hank Margeson refered to Sustainable Redmond for their help in getting the word out and educating Redmond citizenry. 

Reported By Bob Yoder