Title
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 4 OF THE COMMERCE CITY MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADDING A NEW ARTICLE V REGARDING BACKYARD CHICKENS AND BEES AND AMENDING SECTION 21-5226 OF THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE TO ALLOW BACKYARD CHICKENS AND BEES
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Summary and Background Information:
BACKGROUND
Backyard animals has been a running discussion in the City over the past several years. Previous Councils have directed Staff to investigate the possibility of allowing the keeping of backyard animals such as chickens and bees in 2016, 2018, and 2020. Staff brought information to Council at those times, but Council did not take further action. In 2023, Council again directed Staff to explore backyard animals.
At the May 8, 2023, study session, Staff presented information on backyard chickens. Council then directed Staff to refer the issue to the voters in that year’s election. Based on that direction, Staff prepared three ballot questions that would allow for the keeping of backyard chickens, ducks, and bees, respectively. These ballot questions were brought to Council and approved via Resolutions 2023-071 (chickens), 2023-074 (ducks), and 2023-077 (bees) at the July 17, 2023, Council meeting.
On November 7, 2023, residents of Commerce City voted to approve the ballot questions allowing for the keeping of backyard bees and chickens; the question that would have allowed the keeping of backyard ducks failed. These questions require the City to adopt ordinances by December 31, 2024, that would allow, with certain restrictions, the keeping of backyard bees and chickens.
Since passage of these two ballot questions, Staff has been working on preparing such an ordinance for Council’s action. The Ordinance on the agenda tonight would enact a new section of the Animal Code that would provide regulations for keeping backyard bees and chickens.
REGULATIONS
Staff has prepared these regulations over several months by examining best practices demonstrated by other cities and recommendations f...
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