North Huntingdon seeks new rules for backyard chickens
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North Huntingdon officials may have put the battle over backyard chickens behind them after setting in motion more stringent requirements for raising poultry in a neighborhood.
The township commissioners last week authorized advertising an ordinance that would require property owners to have at least 1 acre of land if they want to keep chickens in a residential neighborhood.
Under the existing ordinance, those in a residential neighborhood with less than 10 acres of property can apply for a conditional use permit. The township commissioners have the authority to decide whether to approve the application for a permit for the chickens.
The commissioners approved advertising the new ordinance in a 5-2 vote, with Eric Gass and Zachary Haigis opposing, but for differing reasons.
Gass has been a proponent of allowing people to raise chickens in their backyards. He said people should have the right to use their property in the manner they see fit and pointed out that chickens can provide a safe food supply. He favors considering applications on a “case-by-case” basis.
Haigis said he wanted to require properties to be at least 2 acres to contain chickens.
Those who want to raise chickens on at least a 1 acre parcel in a residential neighborhood need to apply for a $200 permit. A coop must be at least 20 feet from a property line and 50 feet from the nearest structure, said Ryan Fonzi, township planning director. The chickens are not permitted to run freely on a property.
Those found to be keeping chickens without a permit would be given a warning and are required to apply for a permit, Fonzi said. The township can fine the offender, but does not have the authority to remove the chickens.
Fonzi said he had based the proposed ordinance on parts of regulations from other municipalities and what he described as a “stripped-down, shorter, more efficient version” of what was under consideration in 2022. The commissioners failed to adopt a new chicken ordinance in 2022 because a majority could not agree on property requirements.
Some housing plans have 1 acre lots and the township could issue a permit regardless of whether covenants in the housing plan prohibit backyard chickens, Fonzi said. It would be up to fellow residents of that housing plan to file a legal challenge. Almost 13% of the 1,800 lots in the township are at least 1 acre, he said.
In addition to the vote on advertising a new ordinance, commissioners voted to repeal the current ordinance allowing residents with less than 10 acres to apply for a conditional use permit to raise chickens. That ordinance required the applications to be considered on a case-by-case basis.
The commissioners may vote on the ordinance at a June meeting.