## AGENDA ## City Council Work Session Monday, May 26, 2026 ## Council Chambers (following the Regular Meeting at 6 p.m.) 1.Discussion Regarding Chicken Regulations in Minnesota Cities. 2.2025 Year End and 2026 First Quarter Budget to Actuals. 3.Adjournment ## AGENDA RECOMMENDATION ## City Council Work Session 1. ## Meeting Date:05/26/2026 ## Agenda Item: Discussion Regarding Chicken Regulations in Minnesota Cities. ## Recommendation/Action(s): As a result of the discussion, City Staff will be looking for direction from the Council on possible next steps. ## Summary: In 2023, the City Council provided work direction that City Staff should complete research regarding Backyard Chicken regulations in other cities. Attached is a document that provides a high-level summary of regulations in select cities. This research does not cover every MN city. Most cities have the requirement that coops and runs require a building or fence permits for their initial construction and include language regarding rodent-proof food containers, that the City may inspect after a permit or license is issued, and that noise and/or smell from the animals may be considered a nuisance. In discussion with several communities, there are few complaints and few properties that require follow-up inspections. A few of the cities have shared that they have had a permit or license that needed to be revoked. Very few cities reported situations where a complaint regarding a permit or license could not be addressed through their code enforcement techniques. While rare, the research did identify a few problem situations – this said, it was very limited. ## Attachments ## Summary of Chicken Research ## Summary of Urban Chicken Regulations for Minnesota Cities ## Updated May 2026 ## Common Regulatory Categories • Hen Limit – Maximum number of hens allowed • Roosters – Whether roosters are permitted • Coop/Run Setbacks – Minimum distance requirements from property lines or neighboring structures • Permit or License – Required permits, licenses, fees, or inspections • Special Conditions – Additional restrictions or unique requirements ## Blaine (Anoka County) • Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens ## • Roosters: Prohibited • Coop/Run Setbacks: Minimum 5 feet from side and rear property lines; 30 feet from dwellings • Permit or License: $65 permit required ## Bloomington (Hennepin County) • Hen Limit: Up to 4 hens ## • Roosters: Prohibited • Coop/Run Setbacks: Minimum 30 feet from lot lines; 50 feet from neighboring dwellings • Permit or License: No permit required • Special Conditions: Not permitted on properties with three or more residential units ## Brooklyn Center (Hennepin County) • Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens ## • Roosters: Prohibited • Coop/Run Setbacks: Minimum 5 feet from property lines; 30 feet from dwellings • Permit or License: No permit required ## Burnsville (Dakota County) • Hen Limit: Up to 6 hens ## • Roosters: Prohibited • Coop/Run Setbacks: Rear yard only; 50 feet from adjacent…