Cooped up by COVID-19, residents of this Johnson County city want backyard chickens
Prairie Village could become the latest city in the Kansas City metro to let residents keep backyard chickens.
“In the current environment that we find ourselves in right now, there’s a growing feel for people wanting to be more self-sufficient,” said Councilwoman Inga Selders, who proposed the idea, she said, after receiving about 100 messages from residents wanting their own chickens. “This year, we’ve seen a renaissance of people planting their victory gardens, keeping bees, composting their food waste and wanting the ability to raise hens for fresh eggs.”
Monday night, the City Council voted 8-4, instructing city staff to draft an amendment to the city’s animal code that would allow hens and chicks in backyard enclosures. A growing number of cities have allowed backyard chickens since the fad picked up about a decade ago, including Kansas City, Lee’s Summit, Overland Park, Roeland Park, Mission and several others.
The Prairie Village City Council has approved other initiatives in recent months where council members touted the importance of self-sufficiency and environmental sustainability — including a pilot program approved in November for curbside compost pickup.
Proponents argue keeping chickens offers residents a healthier alternative to buying eggs in a grocery store, plus provides an educational opportunity for children. They contend that as long as coops are well-maintained and the fowl are taken care of, the birds are relatively quiet and will not smell.
“As someone who grew up on a dirt road, I think people would be surprised at how unobtrusive hens are,” Councilman Tucker Poling said.
Backyard chicken ordinances differ by city. Overland Park requires a special permit for housing chickens on property that is less than three acres. In Kansas City, roosters are allowed, but those that crow are not allowed within 300 feet of other residences.
The Prairie Village ordinance would let residents keep a maximum of six hens that are 16 weeks or older, or up to eight chicks. Roosters would not be allowed.
Each chicken coop would need to allow at least 12 square feet of space per chicken, up to 85 square feet total, and only in backyards. And they would need to be at least 10 feet from the property line and at least 25 feet from neighboring buildings.
While the majority of council members supported the idea, a few expressed concerns, such as whether permits or inspections should be required.
But City Administrator Wes Jordan proposed that the ordinance be similar to the city’s beekeeping statute, which includes restrictions but does not require a permit. Residents could file a complaint if rules are not followed.
“The bureaucracy of it, I’d like to minimize it if it’s not needed,” Jordan said. “We can always go out (to someone’s property) if there’s a complaint. Our thought was, let’s try it this way and if there’s a need to amend it because we’re having complaints or problems, we can always go back in and change it to a permit process.”
The council decided to move forward, and will vote on a proposed ordinance at a future meeting. Council members Courtney McFadden, Ron Nelson, Dan Runion and Terrence Gallagher voted against it.
