Rogers City Council unanimously approves backyard chicken ordinance
The Rogers City Council unanimously passed a zoning amendment on Monday allowing residents to keep backyard chickens on residential lots as small as 0.2 acres, settling a debate over how to balance community desires with enforcement concerns.
The council's decision came after a public hearing that revealed deep divisions among residents and commissioners about the practical implications of allowing chickens in neighborhoods. The proposed ordinance, based on a 2025 resident survey showing 70% support, sets specific rules: a minimum of 0.2 acres for four hens, with additional space required for more birds. Coops and runs must be durable and enclosed, positioned at least 10 feet from property lines and 30 feet from residential structures.
The central point of contention was whether the city should require permits and inspections or rely on a complaint-based enforcement system. City staff recommended against permits, citing resource constraints and concerns about enforcement burden on police. However, several commissioners and residents argued that a permit process would allow inspectors to verify that properties meet standards before problems arise—checking that coops are properly constructed, food is stored in sealed containers, and lots are suitable for chickens.
One commissioner noted that permitting "would have the opportunity to have an inspector verify that the property is suitable, that the coop meets the criteria, the run meets the criteria, that the food is stored in a sealed container." Others worried about the ordinance's enforceability without such oversight, questioning how violations could be addressed or whether the ability to keep chickens could be revoked if problems developed.
Public speakers offered competing perspectives. Some emphasized the educational and personal consumption benefits of backyard chickens, while others raised concerns about potential noise, odors, and roaming birds. Questions were also raised about the validity of the survey and the impact on rental properties and homeowners associations.
The council also received an informational update on Rogers' 2050 Comprehensive Plan, which addresses broader growth and development issues including housing diversity, transportation improvements, and parks expansion. A community open house on the comprehensive plan is scheduled for August 26 at 5 p.m.
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Votes (2)
Comprehensive Plan Amendment Joint Session
The consultant, Lance Bernard, provided an update on the 2050 Comprehensive Plan, emphasizing community engagement and preliminary findings. Discussions centered on balancing anticipated growth with maintaining community character and quality of life. Key areas of focus include housing diversity (addressing the 'missing middle'), transportation system improvements (congestion, pedestrian/bike safety), and parks/trails expansion. The role of state statute and the Metropolitan Council in driving comprehensive plan updates was highlighted, alongside the city's efforts to gather local input and tailor the plan to Rogers' specific needs. Concerns were raised about potential state legislative interference in local land use decisions and the need for data to support assumptions about housing types.
Public Hearing: Amendment to Zoning Code to Allow Backyard Chickens
Moved by Commissioner [1:54:50] · Seconded by Commissioner [1:55:00]
The public hearing reviewed a proposed ordinance to allow backyard chickens, detailing conditions such as minimum lot size (0.2 acres for 4 hens), coop/run construction (durable, enclosed), and setbacks. Staff recommended against a permit process, favoring a prescriptive ordinance and complaint-based enforcement, citing feedback from other cities. Commissioners and public members expressed diverse views: some supported the allowance for educational and personal consumption reasons, while others voiced strong concerns about potential nuisances (noise, smell, roaming chickens), lack of a permit/inspection process leading to non-compliance, validity of the supporting survey, and enforcement burden on city staff (especially the CSO). The discussion also covered specifics like minimum square footage per bird, proper waste/feed storage, and the impact on rental properties and HOAs.
Notable Quotes (13)
This is really ultimately your your 10-year vision plan. This is your plan that really outlines a lot of your initiatives where you want to go over the next 10 to 20 years.
How do we balance growth? How do we address some of the housing needs? How do we look at the transportation system, parks, trails, a lot of your community assets that we want to continue to maintain and enhance?
We do a very good job of building detached homes and apartments, but we miss that missing middle. Town homes, quads, smaller affordable products.
Community development needs to stay within the community and uh so I encourage everybody to keep an eye on that, dig into that and learn about what it is.
We have a housing study that we've received grant to fund the entire housing study that should kick off in the beginning of August... the missing middle term really extends beyond just Rogers specifically or state specifically it's a nationwide issue and it's really a price point item more than anything.
Not everybody understands that there's an unelected body called the Met Council that uh dictates really every community within its reach that how much density we should have in Rogers for instance.
This is a little bit of a a longer amendment and it's just because it kind of has to be to make sure that we have uh uh reach all the goals that we want to have with this. if you want to, you know, limit any kind of nuisance conditions that may arise.
We're not recommending a permit process, but instead having a very prescriptive ordinance that covers common concerns.
My question for you the district code here that you've written it has a lot of um must be this far must do this you know must meet these criteria but there is no zoning application there is no permit there is no license. What is the enforcement and if there is a problem can those you know duties or those those whatever the ability to have chickens can that be revoked?
If there was a permitting process, um we would have the opportunity to have an inspector verify that the property is suitable, that the coupe meets the criteria, the run meets the criteria, that the food is stored in a sealed container and those things that need to occur.
Minimum square footage per bird. That's very important for animal health. It's very important for just the overall considerations as far as the design, the ownership. Provides commitment from the community that they're actually willing to do something.
Permitting has a person attached to it, which would be additional staff. it. So, that's something to consider.
Just that simple step is going to greatly reduce complaints to the police department... put the permit in place.
Ordinances & Resolutions (6)
The current Comprehensive Plan update for the City of Rogers.
The current process to update the city's long-term vision and policies.
Proposed new section in the zoning code for the keeping of animals.
Existing city animal ordinance to be amended to reference new backyard chicken rules.
Proposed changes to city regulations regarding backyard chickens.
A forthcoming study funded by a grant to inventory housing types and values in Rogers.
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Zoning Code Amendment for Backyard Chickens
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