Golden Valley Reminds Residents of Rules for Keeping Chickens

Though no one has applied to have chickens in Golden Valley as of July 25, the city is reminding residents about keeping them if they do.

After studying extensive research by the Golden Valley’s Environmental Commission, the Golden Valley City Council passed an ordinance June 18 allowing residents to keep chickens within city limits. Residents may apply for licenses starting now.

Residents who choose to keep chickens on their property must follow a number of regulations, primarily relating to measurements and location of the coop within the property. Residents may keep no more than four chickens and must remove the coop from the property when they no longer keep chickens. The butchering of chickens is not allowed on the property.

An initial inspection for the coop is $75, with a $25 annual license fee that expires every April 1. Get more information.

Residents had been expressing interest in keeping chickens for several years, says Eric Seaburg, staff liaison for the chicken study. But the City Council delayed passing an ordinance until it could finish a study on the concerns of legalization.

“Noise was a large concern,” Seaburg says. “But that’s not a problem with hens, and the new ordinance bans roosters.”

Some residents were concerned that chicken coops in the neighborhood would bring down property values, but realtors consulted on the subject said this has not been the case.

Another concern was whether chicken coops will attract more predatory animals to the area, but wildlife experts said it’s unlikely. Chicken coops have also not been shown to spread disease.

A study of nearby cities that allow chickens, such as Minneapolis, found they have seen no significant problems.

There is also a Golden Valley Coop Group Facebook page that was formed this March in support of being able to have chickens in the city. The page's most recent post is about the ordinance being approved.

The page says this on what its about: "Golden Valley residents for backyard Chicken Coops, to share information about responsibly raising healthy chickens in an urban environment."

(Information provided by the city of Golden Valley.)