Sewickley officials approve chicken raising regulations

Those who want to raise chickens in Sewickley have some new rules to follow.

Council unanimously voted Oct. 10 to adopt an ordinance regulating chickens in the borough.

“We have a fair number (of people raising chickens) as far as I know,” said council president Cynthia Mullins. “(Their chickens) are very well behaved. Every once in a while someone sneaks a rooster in, and that becomes a problem for the neighbors.”

Mullins said noise complaints was the driving force for the ordinance.

“Getting woken up at 4 o’clock in the morning by roosters is kind of a deal breaker for some people,” Mullins said.

The new ordinance prohibits roosters.

Other regulations include:

• No chickens kept in townhouses, condominiums, apartment complexes or mobile home parks.

• No chickens kept on any parcel less than 2,000 square feet.

• Chickens must be provided a coop that is properly designed to be easily accessed, cleaned and maintained.

• Coops must be least three square feet per chicken and located at least 20 feet from any property line.

• All animal feed shall be stored in a secured, rodent-proof container and housed within an enclosed structure.

The ordinance states anyone wishing to keep chickens on less than one acre of land shall submit an application with the borough and pay a $20 fee.

The law also prohibits all farm animals, except chickens, from being kept on less than two acres of land.

Any farm animal in the borough must be confined to the private property of the owner by use of fencing or barriers to prevent them from running at large or trespassing onto public or other private property.

Ordinance violations may result in $50 fines and up to $600 plus court costs.

Mullins said she would not be able to raise chickens because she would likely violate the ordinance when it comes to coops.

“I like animals a lot and I get very attached to them,” she said. “If I had chickens, I’m sure they’d be in the house sleeping in the bed and stuff like that.”

The ordinance is available for review at the borough office, 601 Thorn St.

In other business

All motions made on Oct. 10 passed unanimously.

Council adopted a resolution for the emergency repairs of two inlets along Ohio River Boulevard.

Council adopted a resolution requesting a $368,000 grant from the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County for a municipal building and parking lot project.

Council approved a request from Christine Gallagher to use Riverfront Park from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 28 for a community outreach event.

The Mission Company and Northway Sewickley Valley are partnering for a food distribution and picnic in the park.

Council vice president Julie Barnes announced the borough has collected 120 tons of glass since its glass recycling partnership with Quaker Valley Council of Governments last year.