More chickens will be allowed to “come home to roost” following changes made in an ordinance approved by the Hobart City Council.
The council on Wednesday passed on first reading the ordinance which gives more leniency when it comes to raising chickens on less than one-half acre properties.
The ordinance still needs one more reading, likely at the June 4 council meeting, Mayor Josh Huddlestun said.
City Councilman Mark Kara, D-2nd, who researched the issue including looking at requirements in other Northwest Indiana communities, said the new ordinance is focused on lots smaller than one-half acre.
The one-half acre requirements of chicken coops, required to be located within 200 feet of a residence, will remain the same, officials said.
“We focused on smaller lots…I think we came up with a pretty good ordinance,” Kara said.
According to the new ordinance, those residents not able to meet the 200 feet requirements will be required to go by the following provisions: no roosters; no more than four chickens on any single parcel; and chickens must be kept completely and securely enclosed and under the control of the owner at all times.
Other provisions of the new ordinance are: chicken coop must provide adequate access to sunlight, shade and ventilation; be constructed to provide at least 10 square feet of space per chicken; not exceed 75 total square feet in size; not exceed 10 feet in height; be located 10 feet from all property lines; and sit no less than 60 feet from any neighboring residential dwelling, however, where a fence or other barrier of no less than six feet in height is maintained between the coop and the neighboring dwelling, the required setback may be reduced to a minimum of 40 feet.
City Councilman John Brezik, D-5th, said he would like to see an addition to the ordinance requiring residents who are raising chickens to register with the city.
“Just register that they have it, not (registering) individual chickens, like Chicken Doe,” Brezik said.
City Councilman Matthew Claussen, D-at-large, agreed with Brezik.
“To John’s point, we could add a registration sometime later,” Claussen said.
Claussen joked that he thinks the increased interest in the raising of chickens is just a fad.
“I think in a few years people will quit having chickens,” he said.
That’s not the case for resident Jessica Solomon, who came to the meeting to find out the outcome of the new ordinance.
Solomon said she’s raised chickens for four years, enjoys using them as part of homeschooling instruction for her children, as well as their food source given the fresh eggs.
“I love my chickens. They are everything,” Solomon said.
She said she knows lots of families in Hobart who raise chickens and enjoy the benefits.
Hobart resident Elizabeth Cook, who had previously raised chickens, remains hopeful that the changes discussed will allow her to have chickens back on her property.
Two years ago she received a call from code enforcement telling her that the chickens she had on her property weren’t allowed.
Since then, her former chicken coop has been turned into a greenhouse.
Cook is hopeful she may be able to raise chickens again given the changes in the ordinance.
“As long as I get my chickens,” Cook said.
Deborah Laverty is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
