What came first, the chicken or the ordinance? Chickens are allowed in 43% of Fillmore County cities

In recent years, Fillmore County has become a brooder box of chicken politics. It’s not about whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican. It’s about important stuff. It’s about whether townies should have the right to egg it up. The late KFC kingpin Colonel Sanders would delight in all this crispy chicken chatter.
On Tuesday, November 6, 2018, voters living in the City of Fountain will decide the fate of chickens within the city limits. Yes, it will be on the ballot. Will chickens get the axe or claim a new roost on Election Day? TBD.
If a reporter does a little rubbernecking around Fillmore County, the latest poultry analytics indicate that six out of 14 cities are pro-chicken — allowing chickens within the residential district. Here are the results from top to bottom, alphabetically speaking, of course.
No in Canton
According to City Clerk/Treasurer Lolly Melander, “No chickens are allowed in Canton unless they have 10 acres of land.”
Yes in Chatfield
Joel Young, City Clerk of Chatfield, cited Section 6.12 of the city ordinance, “No zoning certificate shall be issued for more than six hens or one chicken per 1,800 square feet of lot size, whichever number is less. The issuance of a zoning certificate shall not permit the keeping of a rooster.”
Furthermore, Section 6.13 of the city ordinance states, “All chicken coops and runs must be located within the rear yard and are subject to the required setbacks for accessory structures; must be located at least 50 feet from any existing residential building not located on the property; and, must be screened from all adjacent properties and streets. Screening can include: An existing building; a four-foot high solid fence; or a four-foot in height (high) landscaped hedge. Hen chickens must be confined in a chicken coop or run at all times.”
And, according to Section 6.16 of the city ordinance, if a resident doesn’t comply with the ordinance by obtaining or maintaining a current zoning certificate, or after a zoning certificate has been suspended or revoked, that resident shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
No in Fountain
Rhonda Flattum, Fountain’s City Clerk, shared, “We do not have a separate ordinance only on chickens. Our Zoning Ordinance reads as follows: Section 180.220 Agricultural Uses: The use of lands, buildings or structures for the purpose of animal husbandry is not allowed within any zoning district in the City. This includes the raising, breeding, training, rearing, sale, and confinement of any livestock, including but not limited to cattle, horses, swine, poultry, fish, and fur bearing animals.”
Chickens were allowed in the City of Fountain up until 2002, when a zoning ordinance was implemented. “Even though some people took very good care of their agricultural animals, others did not. Chickens were running at large in neighboring yards. The ordinance was written at that time to eliminate recurring issues from past experiences with farm animals within the city limits,” explained Flattum.
“A citizen said their family raised chickens. The chickens were in a controlling environment, but still received complaints from neighbors because the food in the chicken coop was attracting rats and mice. The rodents were digging holes under the chicken coop, trying to get in,” shared Flattum.
No in Harmony
“We just recently modified our animal ordinance to allow chickens in industrial zoned areas only,” shared Harmony City Administrator Jerome Illg.
Illg added, “Our animal ordinance does not allow for farm animals except in agriculture areas or residential lots larger than 10 acres.”
Yes in Lanesboro
According to City Administrator Michelle Peterson, the City of Lanesboro has an ordinance that allows for up to six chickens in the residential area which requires a permit filed with the city.
No in Mabel
Karen Larson, City Clerk of Mabel, indicated, “Mabel city ordinances do not allow chickens in city limits at this time. Since I have worked here I have only had one resident inquire on it.”
No in Ostrander
“The City of Ostrander’s Chicken ordinance is no chickens. This was an issue with residences who did not want to wake up to roosters crowing and so a ban was put into place,” shared City Clerk/Treasurer Wendy Brincks.
Yes in Peterson
City Clerk/Treasurer Chris Grindland shared a copy of the ordinance passed by the Peterson City Council on May 14, 2014, citing section 91.04_a of the code, stressing key points that chickens are only allowed with a permit, and residents can only keep five per household. No roosters are allowed. There is a rotation permit to allow for new chicks as aging chickens decrease egg production. The rotation permit allows for up to five new chicks while the five old hens are maturing, but not for more than a six month period. There are also regulations relating to fencing and coops, along with a stipulation that “chicken feed and manure must be kept in rodent and raccoon proof containers and must not be placed in yard compost piles.” If a resident does not follow these seven chicken commandments of Peterson, offenders shall face the wrath of up to 90 days of imprisonment and a fine of not more than $700.
No in Preston
Preston City Administrator Joe Hoffman indicated that, “the City of Preston does not have a specific chicken ordinance. Chickens are classified and regulated as farm animals in the Preston code of ordinances. Generally, farm animals, chickens included, are allowed only in ag zoned areas or on residential lots of at least 10 acres. There is not a specific limit.”
Yes in Rushford
The City of Rushford has maintained a chicken ordinance since May 14, 2012. According to the ordinance, provided by Kathy Zacher, Rushford’s City Clerk/Treasurer, residents can keep five hens on their property; no roosters. All chickens must be banded, and banding is provided by the City of Rushford when residents file for their permit — a $20 fee. The permit must be approved by 100% of property owners adjacent to the applicant’s property. Not following the rules will result in a petty misdemeanor.
Zacher shared, “We’ve only issued four permits since we adopted it (chicken ordinance). We had one family in town who raised chickens for several years until they moved. We currently have no one with a permit, but one family is finishing up their application now. It hasn’t been a problem, but it hasn’t been as popular as it was first believed it would be either!”
Yes in Rushford Village
Mary Miner, Rushford Village’s City Clerk, shared that, “Residents cannot have more than six chickens and roosters are prohibited.”
The Rushford Village City Council approved the keeping of chickens on June 5, 2012, shortly after the sibling city of Rushford approved their ordinance in May of 2012.
In the Village, residents can keep six hens, and the applicants are required to get 100% approval of all adjacent property owners. Slaughtering of chickens is prohibited within the city limits unless you have the pleasure of owning and operating a business that is licensed to do so.
Yes in Spring Valley
City Administrator Deb Zimmer responded, “Spring Valley does allow chickens with a permit.”
In Spring Valley, residents may be issued a permit for up to “five hen chickens or one chicken per 1,800 square feet of lot size, whichever number is less. Roosters are prohibited.”
Regarding the rules and regulations regarding approval of adjacent neighbors to applicant, coup construction, and location of coop on the property, as young people say these days — same. All aforementioned ordinances have similar language.
No in Whalan
According to Whalan City Clerk/Treasurer Lolly Melander, the city doesn’t have an ordinance yet. But, the city council is working on updating the ordinance this fall to include chickens.
No in Wykoff
Wykoff City Clerk/Treasurer Rebecca Schmidt explained, “We just adopted the Minnesota Basic Code of Ordinances. We have never had an issue arise before or after the new ordinances were adopted.”
In accordance with section 91.04 of the Wykoff ordinance, “Farm animals shall only be kept in an agricultural district of the city, or on a residential lot of at least ten acres in size provided that no animal shelter be within 300 feet of an adjoining piece of property.”
Hatching ordinances
First off, apparently roosters are discriminated against due to their tenacious early-riser enthusiasm. There are a few humans who suffer from the same tendencies, but they are tolerated.
Second, if you like sharp-shooting coyotes, skunks, raccoons, mice, or rats from your back porch, some people say chickens might be good attractant. But, pro-chicken people say that’s part of the conservative anti-chicken platform.
Third, if you don’t mind the upkeep of a chicken coop, the yolk rewards are endless for a solid two years. If every hen plops out one egg per day, and you are allowed six hens, that amounts to 182 dozen eggs (2,190 eggs) per year. After two years of peak poultry performance, your eggmakers are best served with a side of rice pilaf.
Fourth, if you ever get caught with chickens in Peterson without a permit, your eggs are done. The Poultry Police mean business in Peterson. That’s up to $700 in fines and up to 90 days in the pen. It might be cheaper to buy a dozen eggs for 99 cents at your local grocery store. But, you can do the math and decide for yourself.
Fifth, the upside to the keeping of chickens is knowing where your food comes from, and gaining that farm life experience within the city limits. But, residents have to maintain a tidy ship if they want to keep on keeping chickens.
Lastly, as long as neighbors can get along, that’s really all that matters. TBD.