Chickens Can Come Home to Roost in Charles City After Ordinance Passes

Ownership of urban chickens in Charles City is legal after the City Council approved the third reading of an ordinance Monday (Oct. 5) night.

The ordinance had to go through the approval process for a second time after it failed to advance past its initial second reading in August after a 2-2 vote, due to the absence of Councilwoman Krista Noah, a supporter of the ordinance. Monday night, a similar fate appeared possible with another supporter, Councilwoman Phoebe Pittman not in attendance for the latest vote.

Prior to a vote, Noah made a plea for reconsideration of the ordinance to those previously in opposition, Councilmen Patrick Lumley and Jeff Otto.

Otto would have a change of heart, with a caveat.

Noah also lobbied that residents who want chickens should be allowed to have the opportunity.

The third reading ordinance passed on a 3-1 vote, with Lumley still against the chicken ordinance, with his main sticking point over the uncertainty of where chickens would go if they were caught running loose or if chickens had to be removed from owners who violate the ordinance.

City Administrator Tyler Trout essentially said that was a work in progress.