A backyard chicken crusade is brewing in Redmond and city officials are taking notice.

Led by longtime Redmond resident, Kathy Dennis, a group of chicken supporters are hoping the city will change it’s current domestic small-animal ordinance and allow critters, such as chickens, ducks and rabbits — not roosters — on smaller residential lots.

The current law, Redmond Municipal Code, Chapter 7.04.156, limits the ownership of small animals, such as chickens, to lots one-half acre or larger. Ownership of larger animals such as horses and cattle are limited to lots one acre and larger based on the type of animal.

Several major cities around the nation allow small animals, such as chickens on smaller city lots, including Seattle, which just last year increased the maximum number of small animals from three to eight. In addition, nearby cities of Bellevue, Woodinville and Samammish allow chickens on city lots.

“I think it’s ridiculous that they have this rule,” said Sally Carlson, who owns a quarter-acre lot near Idylwood Beach Park. “Redmond used to be a farming community. If San Francisco and New York can deal with chickens, then Redmond can too.”

The City of Redmond will hold a community meeting discussing small-animal husbandry, including backyard chickens, Aug. 3 from 6-8:15 p.m. at City Hall, 15670 N.E. 85th St.

SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES

For Dennis, owning backyard chickens and vegetable gardens are ways residents can incorporate sustainable practices into their everyday lifestyle.

“I love to garden and I thought having backyard chickens would be one more way of providing food in your own backyard,” said Dennis, a 40-year Redmond resident.

Dennis also pointed out that chickens eat garden weeds and waste, create fertilizer for the garden and provide entertainment for the whole family, along with healthy, pesticide-free eggs.

But backyard chickens also raise concerns, including noise, smell and attracting unwanted predators, such as coyotes and bobcats and rodents, such as rats and mice.

“I think they are absolutely valid concerns, but I think if you take care of (the chickens) right, then those concerns are gonna be minimized,” Dennis said.

Not knowing the lot-size requirement for small animals, Dennis owned three chickens in her backyard last summer and enjoyed fresh eggs every day. Dennis’ fresh-egg days ended when a neighbor reported the chickens to the city’s code enforcement office, which told Dennis her new pets were illegal.

Dennis got rid of the chickens, but she continued to put the pressure on city officials to consider a change. Last fall, she spoke at a city council meeting and met with city council members and officials individually. In addition, she created a Facebook group called “Chickens in Redmond,” which now has more than 60 supporters.

Fueled by the persistence of Dennis and her supporters, along with the urging of council member Kimberly Allen, the ordinance that bans chickens from smaller city lots will be reviewed by the city’s planning commission as part of the upcoming comprehensive plan update.

The “Chickens in Redmond” group is asking the council to vote to allow three hens per lot, without roosters, which would help prevent unwanted noise.

Dennis said she hopes the upcoming meeting is the first step toward changing the law.

“It looks like to me Redmond is actually wanting a conversation and looking for input and not just about chickens, but other small animals,” Dennis said.

Residents will have the chance to share their interests, questions and concerns with city staff at next week’s meeting.

The information at the meeting will be passed along to the planning commission, who will begin its review in late September, according to Kimberly Dietz, senior planner for the City of Redmond. During its review, the planning commission will hold a public hearing, where residents will have another chance to voice their opinion on the issue. After that, the planning commission will give its recommendation to the city council, which will vote on the issue sometime in November or December, Dietz said.

Allen, who chairs the council’s planning and public works committee, said she is optimistic the council will vote to change the ordinance to allow chickens, but not the noise-making roosters.

Allen said she brought up the idea of changing the ordinance about five years ago, but was shot down by other council members.

She said a change in the ordinance is overdue and follows along nicely with the city’s push for residents to participate in sustainable living practices.

“It’s high time for this,” Allen said. “Microsoft was chicken farms before Bill Gates got a hold of it.”

But the city must “craft regulations so it doesn’t have a negative impact on neighbors,” she added.

LOWER PROPERTY VALUES?

No matter what kind of new law is crafted, backyard chickens will only lower property values, according to council president Richard Cole, who has made it quite clear he is against changing the city’s small animal/chicken rule.

“It could deteriorate your property value,” he said. “The government doesn’t have the right to change the rules after you bought your home. That would be a real detriment to buy that house with a chicken coop next door. To me as a buyer, that would have an impact.”

Homeowner Karin Duval, who lives near Idylwood Beach Park, disagrees that backyard chickens will lower property values. In fact, she said chickens are “quiet, completely safe and delightful. And they produce wonderful gifts for breakfasts or baking day after day after day.”

Dennis said the way to erase concerns by nearby homeowners is to keep a clean coop and care for your chickens in a responsible way. She even suggested the city require chicken owners to pay a licensing fee, which could go into the city code enforcement budget.

As for Carlson, another chicken supporter, she hopes the city follows what many other cities in the region and around the nation are doing and allow a few chickens on smaller city lots.

Carlson actually went out and bought a chicken coop and feeder last summer before finding out on a discussion forum website that chickens were illegal on smaller lots in Redmond.

Her chicken coop remains stored under her backyard deck and she hopes to be able to dust it off and use it soon.

“It’s taking up room under the deck,” she said. “If they don’t pass (a new law) and I don’t get to use it, then I’m going to sell it.”