Allow Backyard Hens in Rockaway Beach Missouri

We are requesting that the city of Rockaway Beach common council add or amend an ordinance that will allow residents to keep backyard hens.

1. The keeping of chickens in the city supports a local, sustainable food system by providing an affordable, nutritious source of protein through fresh eggs.

2. The keeping of chickens also provides free, quality, nitrogen-rich fertilizer; chemical-free pest control; animal companionship and pleasure; weed control; and less noise, mess and expense than dogs and cats.

The purpose of this petition is to provide support for standards for the keeping of domesticated chickens. It is intended to enable residents to keep a small number of female chickens on a non-commercial basis while limiting the potential adverse impacts on the surrounding neighborhood.

Number and Type of Chickens Allowed.
(a) The maximum number of chickens allowed is ten (10) per lot.
(b) Only female chickens are allowed. There is no restriction on chicken species.

Enclosures.
(a) Chickens shall be secured within the henhouse or other enclosure during non-daylight hours.
(b) Enclosures must be clean, dry, and odor-free, kept in a neat and sanitary condition at all times, in a manner that will not disturb the use or enjoyment of neighboring lots due to noise, odor or other adverse impact.
(c) A henhouse or other shelter shall be provided and shall be designed to provide safe and healthy living conditions for the chickens while minimizing adverse impacts to other residents in the neighborhood.
(d) Any henhouse shall be well-maintained.
(e) Henhouses shall not be placed in the front yard.

Odor and Noise Impacts.
(a) Odors from chickens, chicken manure, or other chicken-related substances shall not be perceptible at the property boundaries.
(b) Perceptible noise from chickens shall not be loud enough at the property boundaries to disturb persons of reasonable sensitivity. This proposed ordinance limits the number of chickens to ten and requires that they be provided with a minimum amount of space and in a clean hen house or enclosure, and that they be provided with exercise outside of the enclosure. When cared for in this way, chickens do not smell bad. By limiting the number of chickens and describing the space in which they can be kept, this proposed zoning addition ensures the happiness of the chickens, their owners, and their neighbors.

There are many misconceptions regarding the keeping of chickens due to lack of information to the public. Many people think that you might need a Rooster to prodcue eggs and that backyard chickens would be noisy. Roosters are NOT needed for a Hen to lay eggs and it is a Rooster that can be loud. Chickens are quieter than dogs or even songbirds; roosters, however, are noisy. No Roosters will be allowed.

Larger Cities in Missouri allow chickens. These include but are not limited to…
Branson, Columbia, Fallon, Jefferson City, Joplin, Kansas City, Lake St. Louis, Neosho, Richmond, Springfield, and St. Charles.