Waterloo's New Chicken Ordinance

Nothing in life is simple or easy when the government gets involved. Take the city of waterloo Wisconsin for example. Not really a liberal place. Trump won there. But when some residents wanted to get backyard chickens – the city government lost its mind.

Following months of committee meetings, draft proposals, hearings and debates, it finally hatched a plan. The city will issue up to six licenses at $50 each. There are 21 requirements.
Seven different breeds are not allowed. And the best part – this is only a 2-year pilot program to figure out whether residents should be allowed to keep chickens or not. The city can pull the plug on the whole thing at any time.

You might get all ruffled up about what’s going in Washington or even in the state capitol – but this is a great example of what happens when you overlook what’s going on in your own backyard.

Here is the city's ordinance and information packet.

Here are the 21 rules:

• Coops must be set back at least 10 feet from the lot line and in the rear of the dwelling.
• Coops and runs must be set back at least 25 feet from neighbors’ buildings.
• Coops will be required to be held down by a 24-inch screw in earth anchors.
• Runs including the Chicken coop will not exceed 6 feet by 16 feet.
• There will be height minimum of 5 feet for all fencing.
• Abandoned coops must be removed within 30 days.
• Electric run to the coop must meet state codes, may not use an extension cord.
• No resident of multi-family dwellings will be eligible.
• Any resident living in a rental property must have written consent from the landlord.
• No roosters.
• Only chicken feed will be allowed.
• Failure to abide by the established requirements may lead to a fine and forfeiture of permit.
• Sale of chicken, chicken meat, eggs or other chicken by-products is prohibited.
• Slaughtering or butchering chickens in residential area is prohibited.
• Chickens shall be kept in a fenced-in covered chicken coop or covered run at all times.
• Chickens shall not be permitted in any other structure on the lot, including garages, basement, and attic.
• Chicken coops and run shall be cleaned at least weekly and the waste must be bagged and disposed of in the City refuse collection cans.
• Chicken feed not put out for active feeding shall be kept indoors or in waterproof containers and shall be inaccessible to or otherwise secure from rodents, racoons and other animals.
• No owner or occupant shall keep chickens without prior issuance of a chicken permit.
• Prior to issuance of license, the applicant shall provide proof or owner consent (if applicable), proof of livestock registration with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, a site plan of the property drawn to scale showing the location of the primary structure and proposed location of the chicken coop and enclosure, and a detailed plan showing the size and height of the coop and run, and pay a permit fee (see fee schedule).
• Officers are permitted to euthanize any chicken found running at large.