GF council to reconsider chicken ordinance

The Grand Forks City Council is taking another look at whether chickens should be banned within city limits.

Current city code says residents can receive a permit for fowl if they get a neighbor’s permission…and pass a health department check for sanitation.

A staff report says the city has issued only ten permits since 2013.

At a committee of the whole meeting last week, the council voted 4-to-3 for a total ban.

At Tuesday night’s council meeting, several residents voiced opposition to a ban.

Council president Dana Sande suggested “tightening up” the current ordinance, including a limit on the number of chickens in a household.

“I’d suggest that in addition to all adjacent properties being notified, I think they should change (the regulation) from 75 feet back to the 200feet that it was in 2008,” Sande said. “I think it should be measured from the property line where the chickens may be wandering.”

The council will examine whether changes should be made to the current ordinance at its July 19^th meeting.