Prospect Heights trying again to reach acceptable regulations on backyard chickens

Prospect Heights officials significantly revised proposed regulations governing backyard chickens kept by residents, which was recommended by the planning and zoning board Wednesday night.

This effort was the culmination of a summerlong effort to find a compromise.

Though unrestricted since 1976, the lack of rules on raising chickens were questioned recently after noise and odor complaints.

Only about 80 of the city’s roughly 4,000 homes have or have had chicken coops, city officials said.

With member Zygmunt Rygiel absent, the remaining zoning board voted 6-0 to recommend a set of regulations for the city council to decide as soon as Oct. 28.

The board’s revisions followed hours of debate and discussion between residents currently raising chickens and neighbors perturbed by the crowing of roosters. Several chicken proponents said they chose Prospect Heights as home due to the lack of personal use poultry regulations.

Zoning board members quashed a proposed annual coop inspection, arguing that as an overreach.

However, they stuck with a $90 fee for an initial permit and a $40 annual renewal fee.

The panel raised the maximum allowable size of a coop and covered run from 200 square feet to 280 square feet. In addition to an existing rule about such accessory structures being at least 5 feet from the property line, they decided coops must also be at least 20 feet from a neighboring home.

The proposed regulations would also limit residents to 20 birds and prohibit roosters. However, ducks and quail were added to the species that could make up that number.

Turkeys and geese remained banned due to noise issues.

While city officials learned during the summer state law prevents any local prohibition on the sale of eggs, they intend to enforce regulations banning any advertising signs.

Prospect Heights Building and Development Director Dan Peterson said the permit process could be operational by the spring if the city council approves the regulations. Residents would have a year to bring their properties into compliance.

Resident Randall Brace argued the regulations are only going to affect responsible chicken owners like himself and the others in the room who’ve been visible and cooperative throughout this regulatory process.

“You’re never going to legislate out willful violators,” Brace said. “I feel that in some ways we’re being treated as criminals in these drafts.”

But Peterson was satisfied with the final product, even though he’d seen some of his own recommendations shot down by the board.

“This is how the public process is supposed to work,” he said.