The Lookout Mountain, Ga., Planning Commission has approved an ordinance allowing residents to keep from 6-24 chickens depending on the lot size.
Six chickens would be allowed when the lot size is 3. to .8 acre. There could be 12 chickens for lots .8 to three acres. The resident could have 18 chickens for 3-5 acres and up to 24 chickens on property of five acres or more.
There will be a public hearing on the proposal on June 12 at 5 p.m. at the Town Hall at Fairyland.
The measure will then proceed on to the Town Council.
The proposal sets guidelines for chicken coops. They should be a minimum of 10 square feet with two square feet for each bird.
The should be secured in a coop/roost from dusk to dawn to protect them from predators.
During daylight hours fowl shall have access to a secure enclosure/yard that is adequately fenced to protect them from predators. New Planning Commission Chairman Keith Sanford noted that "a split rail fence won't do."
The outside enclosure shall be set back 25 feet from any property line and 50 feet from any stream. The setback "shall increase by 10 feet for each sizing in the allowable chicken chart."
The enclosure cannot exceed a peak height of 12 feet above finished grade.
The coop-roost structure shall be well ventilated and provide protection from the weather and predators.
Chicken feed must be kept in a rodent-proof container.
The coop/roost area must be kept in a neat and sanitary condition at all times.
It must be cleaned on a regular basis.
Any power or plumbing supplied to any coop must be installed to code and no temporary power is to be by extension cords.
The enclosure shall be approved by the city manager or designee before any use occurs and "shall be designed to provide safe and healthy living conditions for the chicken."
The use of scrap, waste board, sheet metal, or similar materials to construct the enclosure is prohibited." Mr. Sanford said it would not meet the code "if built like Mr. Haney's chicken house." Another board member commented, "Wow, are you dating yourself."
Members noted that appeals would be a chicken committee headed by Kenneth Bailey, who was dubbed "the chicken czar." "You can call him the colonel," one wag said.
Mr. Sanford was named recently to replace Earl Carlstens, who moved to take another job.
That left a vacancy, and the board had to choose between nominees Mike Willingham and Jan Weaver. Ms. Weaver, a Covenant College graduate, got the necessary votes.