Elizabeth Cook is not counting her chickens just yet.
But the Hobart resident said she was hopeful to start raising them again, in light of the changes made in the ordinance given final approval by the Hobart City Council on Wednesday.
The ordinance, which was unanimously adopted, gives more leniency when it comes to raising chickens on less than one-half acre properties.
“I’m definitely pleased. Now I just have to change some things around,” Cook said.
Cook, who had previously raised chickens, had to give them up after a code enforcement officer told her the chickens on her property weren’t allowed since her property was too small.
Since then, her former chicken coop has been turned into a greenhouse.
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Now changes, including turning her greenhouse back to a chicken coop, will have to be made so she can bring back her chickens.
Cook has been among residents who have attended city council meetings in recent weeks to speak in favor of the raising of chickens primarily for their food source given the fresh eggs they produce.
“I love my chickens. They are everything,” Hobart resident Jessica Solomon previously said of the chickens she’s raised for four years.
City Councilman Mark Kara, D-2nd, researched the issue including looking at requirements in other Northwest Indiana communities.
This newly approved ordinance is focused on lots smaller than one-half acre.
The one-half acre requirements of chicken coops required to be located within 200 feet of a residence, will remain the same, officials said
According to the new ordinance, those residents not able to meet the 200 feet requirements will be required to go by the following provisions: No roosters; no more than four chickens on any single parcel; and chickens must be kept completely and securely enclosed and under the control of the owner at all times.
Other provisions of the new ordinance are: Chicken coop/run must provide adequate access to sunlight, shade and ventilation; be constructed to provide at least 10 square feet of space per chicken; not exceed 75 total square feet in size; not exceed 10 feet in height; be located 10 feet from all property lines; and sit no less than 60 feet from any neighboring residential dwelling, however, where a fence or other barrier of no less than 6 feet in height is maintained between the coop/run and the neighboring dwelling, the required setback may be reduced to a minimum of 40 feet.
City Councilman John Brezik, D-5th, who voted in favor of the new ordinance, said before the vote that he would like to see some type of registration put in place.
But he understands that the registration process would mean extra work for city staff and he doesn’t want “to saddle anyone” with that extra task.
Mayor Josh Huddlestun said even if registrations are required it doesn’t mean all residents will comply.
For instance, although dog owners are required to register their pets, last year only 40 dog permits were issued.
The ordinance, which was tweaked before the final reading, included adding “run” to any reference to coop and added, after keeping the chickens securely enclosed, “offers sufficient space for browsing and feeding.”
Deborah Laverty is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.