Backyard Chicken Ordinance Heads Back To Planning Commission

Following Tuesday night’s , the Upper Dublin Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to amend the proposal, which is now headed back to the planning commission for review.

The would have allowed residents with at least half-an-acre to keep up to six chickens, so long as the coup was positioned at least 25-feet away from both the residence and the perimeter of the property, but the amended ordinance would increase both the required lot size and the coup restrictions.

“I’d like to increase the lot-acre size from half-an-acre to one acre, and also increase the setbacks on the property from 25 feet to 40 feet for the side and rear properties,” said Ronald Feldman, vice president of the Upper Dublin Board of Commissioners.

Residents who have already received a variance from the zoning board will be grandfathered-in under the new ordinance, and those without the required acreage will still be able to apply for a variance.

“While this may seem restrictive as discussed, [residents] will have a recourse if they are of the mindset to have chickens [on a lot smaller than one acre],” said Commissioner Chester Derr.

Once the county and local planning commissions have reviewed the amended proposal, the ordinance will be sent back to the board of commissioners for a final approval.

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