BRISTOL, Va. — City leaders are considering changes to the ordinance governing chickens, including assessing owners an annual fee.
The Bristol Virginia Planning Commission is scheduled to meet Wednesday to discuss proposed changes and then send a recommendation to the City Council. Both bodies participated in a joint public hearing during Tuesday’s council meeting.
Current regulations permit six hens but no roosters, kept in an enclosed shelter with fenced pen kept in a “neat, sanitary condition” with no accumulation of chicken waste. No sales of chickens or eggs is permitted.
“Some people reached out and they were looking to add some chickens and they live right here in the heart of the city,” Mayor Becky Nave said after the meeting. “I think if people want to have chickens that’s fine as long as we are being respectful of our neighbors with the upkeep and not disturbing anybody around us. I do agree we don’t need a rooster and that seems to be what the problem was and it was a noise disturbance early in the mornings.”
The proposed changes include assessing a $100 permit for the first year and $25 per year for subsequent years, which prompted some discussion among council members.
Nave and Councilman Neal Osborne urged city staff to lower the initial permit fee, saying some people are likely trying to save money given the rising cost of eggs at the supermarket.
In 2024 the city received multiple noise complaints from residents upset with neighbors having roosters inside the city limits. Roosters are not permitted now and won’t be under the proposed revisions.
Among other proposed changes is reducing the requirement that chickens be kept a minimum of 100 feet from any adjoining property line to 10 feet and a chicken shelter must be at least 25 feet from any non-owner [neighbor] occupied structure.
It also specifies, the “Zoning Administrator has the authority to require conditions for the permit including but not limited to screening, placement, or other improvements to reduce the impact on neighboring properties.” The city may also require “updates” to the coop or structure “should it become a nuisance to neighbors,” according to the ordinance.
The ordinance also allows the city to “inspect the property to ensure that the shelter is in compliance with the ordinance as written.”
The Planning Commission is expected to hold a called meeting March 5, at noon, and provide a yes or no recommendation to the council for the proposed changes, Community Development and Planning Director Jay Detrick said. Two council votes are required for the ordinance to become part of the city code.
Detrick said they may look at lowering the proposed initial fee.
“Everything else seems to be good but that could change moving forward. We could come back to the council and they might have some additional recommendations,” Detrick said.