65.9 F
Ocala
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Ocala PZB splits vote on recommending residential chicken coops

Chicken coops on residential properties may soon be permissible on properties within city limits after the Ocala Planning and Zoning Board recommended a change to the city’s code of ordinances.

During Monday’s board meeting, members heard a presentation from Growth Management Director Tye Chighizola regarding the proposed changes to section 122-1221 of the Ocala City Code of Ordinances, which regulates the keeping of livestock.

Chighizola referred to an ordinance change from five years ago that made it permissible to allow livestock on certain residential properties, but restricted those properties to being greater than or equal to five acres.

“There’s not a lot of properties that have five acres,” said Chighizola, suggesting that the changes to the ordinance would “address the issue of chickens” on smaller properties.

“The urban backyard chicken phenomena has kind of spread throughout the country, and many cities have been dealing with ordinances,” added Chighizola.

He went on to explain that many ordinances do not address the health concerns that chicken coops bring to a community, and specifically, to non-commercial, residential homes. He made specific reference to detached, single-family homes and made sure to distinguish those from multi-family homes, which would not be included in the ordinance.

“Basically, [the homeowner] would have a yard, and [the coop] would be in the backyard,” added Chighizola.

The proposed change would limit a homeowner to six chickens, and would restrict the owner from possessing roosters or any other type of poultry.

The homeowner would also be restricted from using the coop for slaughtering or commercial purposes.

“It would basically be used as a hobby or for food production. Those are the main two uses people want with urban backyard chickens,” explained Chighizola.

Although board members generally expressed an interest in supporting the changes, when put to a vote, board members Richard Kesselring and Crystal McCall voted against the ordinance changes. Members Rus Adams, Nathan Gibboney, Andrew Hanley, William R. Gilchrist, and Andrea Ferro voted in favor of the changes.

Now that the change has been recommended for approved, the item will be presented to the City Council on Tuesday, June 18, 2019 for final approval and adoption into the city code of ordinances.

Do you support PZB board members on their decision to recommend residential chicken coops on properties that are smaller than five acres? Share your comments below or write a letter to the editor.