Backyard Chicken Ordinance Considered by Marion County Commissioners

Six hens (no roosters) would be allowed on property inside urban growth boundaries.

Many people choose to raise a few chickens in their own back yard. Photo: James Lewis, Salem-News.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - The Marion County Board of Commissioners will hold the first reading of an ordinance allowing backyard chickens, within urban growth boundary areas, at its regularly scheduled Board Session on Wednesday, July 29, 2015. The meeting begins at 9 a.m.

The proposed ordinance will allow the keeping of up to six hens on property inside urban growth boundaries that are zoned Single Family Residential or Urban Development, except in the Woodburn and Silverton UGBs where a maximum of three hens would be allowed.

The ordinance includes requirements for a chicken run, coop, fenced rear yard, and provisions for storage of food and waste. No roosters would be allowed and there would be no sales of chickens, eggs, or fertilizer.

A second reading is set for two weeks later at the Wednesday, August 12, board session. If adopted, the ordinance would become effective 90 days after the second reading.

To review the draft ordinance, visit: http://www.co.marion.or.us/NR/rdonlyres/FCAD6CE4-F800-443A-B536-2C684B0B968C/62286/07292015OrdinanceBackyardChickensinUGB.pdf.

Interested persons are welcome to comment and may sign-up for public comment at either meeting. Written comments will be presented for consideration by the commissioners at the August 12 meeting if received by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11. Written comments may also be presented at the August 12 meeting.

Comments may be submitted to:
Email: commissioners@co.marion.or.us
Mail: PO Box 14500, Salem, OR 97303
Hand delivery: 555 Court Street NE, Suite 5232, Salem, 97301

For questions about the proposed backyard chicken ordinance, contact Sr. Planner Joe Fennimore at (503) 566-4177 or gfennimore@co.marion.or.us.