Chickens Come Home to Roost in Upper Dublin

The Upper Dublin Township Board of Commissioners once again took up the Backyard Chicken ordinance.

Ira Tackel, Board President, said there are a fair number of residents in Upper Dublin that will to have chickens for eggs. Richard Barton, the Township's Code Enforcement Director added that there are some residents in the township that wish to keep chickens as pets, not just for the eggs.

According to the ordinance, which passed unanimously, a lot of one acre or greater can have chickens. On lots less than three acres, residents can have up to six chickens and on greater than three acres, residents can have no more than 12 chickens.

Residents whole live on a half acre or larger are also able to have chickens by special exception, but they have to meet three conditions and go in front of the zoning hearing board. The conditions are:

• The animal shelter must be at least 100 feet from the neighboring residential building
• They must follow the guidelines as set forth in the ordinance, and
• They must meet the general standards for special exception approval as contained in Section 255-174 of the Township Code.

The ordinance prohibits the keeping of roosters and the slaughtering of chickens on a residential property of any size in the township.

Commissioner Ronald Feldman said, "I don't think there's enough space on an acre of land [for chickens]."

"If a resident is opposed to this [ordinance], they can appear before the Zoning Hearing Board to oppose [it]," said Commissioner Chet Derr.

Paul Leonard, Township Manager, added that a majority of the properties in the township are between a half acre and one acre.

The vote on the Backyard Chicken Ordinance was unanimous in favor of approving the allowance of chickens.