Presentation on Urban Chickens

City of Chandler — Work Session (2022-01-13)

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Urban Chickens   
City Council Work Session | January 13, 2022

Topics
•
Background  
•
Potential Issues 
•
Other municipalities’ 
regulations
•
Possible  Code Amendments

•
AG-1 (43,000 sq ft) & SF-33 
(33,000 sq ft) residential lots 
permit chickens 
•
Unlimited amount 
•
No roosters are permitted in 
any district
•
Required fence enclosure; 
no closer than 100 ft. to 
front property line 
Background

Homeowner’s Associations 
•
HOA’s can prohibit 
raising, breeding, or 
keeping chickens
•
Residents living in HOA’s 
must comply with their 
CC&R’s 
•
71.5% of neighborhoods 
within an HOA

•
Resident initiated Code 
Amendment 2013
•
Planning & Zoning 
Commission recommended 
approval 4-2
•
City Council Denied 4-3; 
concerns cited included 
ability and timelines of 
enforcement
Background

•
Noise 
•
Odor 
•
Health 
•
Trespassing/ roaming 
•
Building safety
•
Enforcement 
Cons
Pros
Urban Chickens 
•
Healthy eggs
•
Free pest control 
•
Chicken droppings: excellent garden 
fertilizer
•
Connection to nature / sustainability
•
Educate children in the family
•
Therapy for special needs residents

•
Misdemeanor vs. Civil 
Citation 
•
Enforcement challenges
•
Distinguishing roosters 
from hens
•
Ability to verify number 
of chickens
•
Identifying owner of “free 
roaming” chickens
•
Currently average 4 
complaints per month
Enforcement

•
Complaint received or proactive 
case initiated
•
10-day Notice to Comply issued
•
7-day Final Notice issued 
•
Court civil citation issued; initial 
court appearance is 30-45 days 
later depending on service
•
Attempt personal service
•
Attempt service by certified 
mail
•
Service by posting at the 
property
•
Criminal cases referral: 45-60 days
Code Enforcement Process

*
Municipality 
Zoning Permitted 
Number Chickens Permitted
(Amount depends on Lot Size) 
Roosters 
Permitted 
Coop 
Permitted 
Gilbert 
All single-family lots 
5 – 37+ chickens
Yes
Yes 
Queen Creek 
All single-family lots 
5 – 10 chickens 
Yes*
Yes 
Mesa 
All single-family lots 
10 – Unlimited chickens
Yes 
Yes
Tempe 
All single-family lots 
5 chickens 
Yes*
Yes
Scottsdale 
All single-family lots 
Unlimited 
Yes
Yes
Phoenix 
All single-family lots 
20 - Unlimited chickens
No 
Yes
Maricopa County 
All single-family lots 
5 - Unlimited chickens
Yes*
Yes
Glendale 
Within lots larger 
than 10,000 
Unlimited 
No 
Yes 
Chandler 
Within lots larger 
than 33,000 
Unlimited
No 
Yes
Surrounding  Municipal Regulations 
*Only permitted on larger lots

*
Municipality 
Zoning Permitted 
Number Chickens Permitted
(Amount depends on Lot Size) 
Roosters 
Permitted 
Coop 
Permitted 
Gilbert 
All single-family lots 
5 – 37+ chickens
Yes
Yes 
Queen Creek 
All single-family lots 
5 – 10 chickens 
Yes*
Yes 
Mesa 
All single-family lots 
10 – Unlimited chickens
Yes 
Yes
Tempe 
All single-family lots 
5 chickens 
Yes*
Yes
Scottsdale 
All single-family lots 
Unlimited 
Yes
Yes
Phoenix 
All single-family lots 
20 - Unlimited chickens
No 
Yes
Maricopa County 
All single-family lots 
5 - Unlimited chickens
Yes*
Yes
Glendale 
Within lots larger 
than 10,000 
Unlimited 
No 
Yes 
Chandler 
Within lots larger 
than 33,000 
Unlimited
No 
Yes
Surrounding  Municipal Regulations 
*Only permitted on larger lots

*
Municipality 
Zoning Permitted 
Number Chickens Permitted
(Amount depends on Lot Size) 
Roosters 
Permitted 
Coop 
Permitted 
Gilbert 
All single-family lots 
5 – 37+ chickens
Yes
Yes 
Queen Creek 
All single-family lots 
5 – 10 chickens 
Yes*
Yes 
Mesa 
All single-family lots 
10 – Unlimited chickens
Yes 
Yes
Tempe 
All single-family lots 
5 chickens 
Yes*
Yes
Scottsdale 
All single-family lots 
Unlimited 
Yes
Yes
Phoenix 
All single-family lots 
20 - Unlimited chickens
No 
Yes
Maricopa County 
All single-family lots 
5 - Unlimited chickens
Yes*
Yes
Glendale 
Within lots larger 
than 10,000 
Unlimited 
No 
Yes 
Chandler 
Within lots larger 
than 33,000 
Unlimited
No 
Yes
Surrounding  Municipal Regulations 
*Only permitted on larger lots

•
Require enclosure to 
prevent chickens from 
running at large (backyard 
fence or chicken run)
•
Weekly maintenance
•
Public nuisance laws (odor, 
noise, health)
Common Regulations

Chapter 35 Zoning Code
•
Chickens permitted all single-family lots
•
Maximum 5 hens, no roosters
•
Chickens must be contained by enclosure; 
no trespassing upon other properties or 
street
Possible Code Amendments
If City Council wants to proceed, staff 
recommends the following:

Assuming 1 hen/1,500 sq ft

Assuming 1 hen/1,500 sq ft

Chapter 35  Zoning Code 
•
Coops exceeding 120 sq. ft. or 9-ft in 
height require building permit
•
Coops connected to utilities (water, 
electricity) require permit regardless 
of size
Possible Code Amendments

•
Enable Police to respond to noise 
complaints for unreasonably loud 
chickens
•
Change violation from misdemeanor to 
civil citation  
•
Repeal Section 14-3 requiring written 
consent from neighbors within 200-feet to 
keep animals (Chapter 14)
Possible Code Amendments

Next steps if moving forward 
•
Winter 2022
– Prepare draft code amendment 
– Circulate among city departments 
to gather comments and concerns
– Revise text if needed
•
Spring 2022
Posted within local newspaper 
and City’s website for public 
comment
•
Summer 2022
Schedule Planning and Zoning 
Commission and City Council 
meetings

Open the floor for Discussion & Questions