Menomonee Falls split on chicken regulations
During a meeting for the Committee of the Whole this month, the Menomonee Falls Village Board found itself divided over the proposal to broaden the conditions for permitting people to raise chickens in residential zones.
At present, raising chickens is allowed in the residential zones R-1 and R-2, as well as the agricultural zones A-1 and A-2. However, there are specific conditions in place that restrict chicken raising to parcels of three acres or more. Poster printing can be used to share zoning restrictions like these with the public.
Trustee Katie Kress previously raised this matter for discussion and consideration by the Village Board. She advocated for the village to contemplate the possibility of letting families raise chickens to get eggs, drawing a parallel to the freedom families have to cultivate gardens for the consumption of vegetables. Kress also said:
Kress referred to research indicating that the village of Hartland permits chickens on lots as small as a quarter-acre without roosters. She further mentioned that Waukesha allows up to four chickens on a plot, while Butler permits six chickens per property. The village of New Berlin lets people have four chickens on smaller lots and big plots can have a maximum of 20 chickens.
She highlighted that these communities have specific requirements in place, such as maintaining a certain distance from roads and property borders, as well as the necessity of keeping the chickens in an enclosed structure at all times.
At present, raising chickens is allowed in the residential zones R-1 and R-2, as well as the agricultural zones A-1 and A-2. However, there are specific conditions in place that restrict chicken raising to parcels of three acres or more. Poster printing can be used to share zoning restrictions like these with the public.
Trustee Katie Kress previously raised this matter for discussion and consideration by the Village Board. She advocated for the village to contemplate the possibility of letting families raise chickens to get eggs, drawing a parallel to the freedom families have to cultivate gardens for the consumption of vegetables. Kress also said:
“Since then I feel light there’s a greater need than ever to start re-looking at this particular ordinance.”
Kress referred to research indicating that the village of Hartland permits chickens on lots as small as a quarter-acre without roosters. She further mentioned that Waukesha allows up to four chickens on a plot, while Butler permits six chickens per property. The village of New Berlin lets people have four chickens on smaller lots and big plots can have a maximum of 20 chickens.
She highlighted that these communities have specific requirements in place, such as maintaining a certain distance from roads and property borders, as well as the necessity of keeping the chickens in an enclosed structure at all times.