North Huntingdon officials this week narrowly approved permits for two residents to keep chickens, with a warning from one council member that it could open the floodgates for more backyard hens.

By 4-3 votes, the commissioners approved permits for Megan Javor of Lancelot Drive and Sarah Helzlsouer of Adams Drive to have chickens in their residential neighborhoods, with conditions that they have no more than six birds and must keep the coops 40 feet from neighboring homes.

Commissioners Jason Atwood, Eric Gass, Virginia Stump and Lindsay Wengrzyn voted to approve the permits, while Richard Gray, Zachary Haigis and Ronald Zona against it.

Both Javor and Helzlsouer said they would agree to abide by the conditions, which do not allow the transfer of the conditional-use permit to another owner if the properties should be sold. Javor has seven hens and is not allowed to replace the bird when it dies.

Some residents complained to the township about Javor’s chickens, which she claims are for emotional support.

Helzlsouer kept chickens at her former home in Elizabeth Township and recently moved to North Huntingdon.

While Haigis complimented Helzlsouer for being the first resident to apply for a permit to keep hens before bringing them, he said after the vote that he opposed the request because of her home’s small lot size.

The issue of residents keeping chickens has dogged the commissioners for close to two years, highlighted by debates that became bitter at times.

While some housing plan associations have covenants that prohibit residents from keeping chickens, township solicitor Craig Alexander said North Huntingdon cannot enforce those private regulations. Zona said this could open the township to more requests to keep backyard chickens.

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