Proposed ordinance on raising chickens introduced

The Sussex Borough Council introduced its long-gestating chicken ordinance Feb. 21.

There will be a public hearing and final vote on the ordinance at the council’s March 7 meeting.

The proposal would allow residents to own and raise chickens based on the size of their property. A minimum of 5,000 square feet would be required to raise a maximum of two chickens.

Up to eight chickens could be raised on a lot of at least 60,000 square feet. On larger lots larger, one additional chicken or “egg-laying poultry” would be permitted for every additional 20,000 square feet.

The proposed ordinance would not allow residents to keep female ducks, guinea fowl, geese, pigeons, birds or other egg-laying fowl in conditions that would be considered a nuisance.

“I think it’s a great idea of tying the number of chickens according to the lot size,” said Councilman Frank Dykstra.

Each coop should be enclosed and large enough for the number of chickens kept. It must be at least five feet from the habitable portion of the nearest residence other than the residence on the property. Garages and accessory buildings are not considered residences.

Coops also must be five feet from any property line. They may be in the back yard only and can not be higher than six feet. Coops must be well-ventilated and maintained to deter predators.

Chickens would be allowed to roam outside the coop and to run in an enclosed area in the rear or side area as long as it is properly fenced. The area should not exceed 100 square feet.

Chicken food stored outside the residence must be tightly sealed to protect it from wildlife. Waste must be properly disposed of to minimize odors.

There will be an annual $12 license fee per residence and each license would expire Dec. 31 of each year.

Renters must have written consent of the property owner to have chickens.

“There’s been a lot of work done by a lot of people, and I’d like to thank you all for doing that,” said the council’s president, Robert Holowach.

The council has been considering a revised chicken ordinance since October, when resident Kirt Young, whose daughter incubated chickens as a high school project, called for a revision.

The family fell in love with the chickens and raised them in the backyard. They learned that they were in violation of the borough’s ordinance, which prohibited the raising of chickens on any borough property less than six acres.