North Port to Consider Chicken Ordinance

Today a North Port Commission workshop inched the City one baby-step closer to considering a change that would allow backyard hens in single family areas.



Commissioner Jones has been hospitalized, so only four commissioners were present to discuss the staff presentation.

The discussion started with public testimony that included a young home-schooled girl that corrected a number of common misconceptions about chickens. Another speaker wanted to correct some statements that had appeared in print. If there was to be a fee, she favored a one-time fee, not an annual expense. She also thought chicken tractors were a good idea. Another speaker talked about the need to limit the idea specifically to chickens and not poultry in general. Finally, CLUCK advocate Jono Miller offered the assistance of the organization that led the 18 month campaign to revise the City of Sarasota's chicken rules.