Halton Hills council approves backyard chicken bylaw

Previously, the Town of Halton Hills Responsible Pet Owner’s By-law 94-077 restricted chickens to properties that were zoned as agricultural. However, after a recent council meeting, they will soon be allowed to be kept in Acton and Georgetown among other areas.

This past year, the town conducted surveys to determine whether residents had an interest in keeping backyard chickens in urban residential areas.

A total of 700 participants completed the first survey and the responses contained mixed reviews.

“I am concerned about where my food comes from. I care about the well-being of chickens and would like to have backyard chickens,” said one participant, whose name has been redacted.

“I think this is disgusting and a health hazard and if I live in a residential zone, I should not have to deal with the sound, smell and mess of farm animals in my subdivision,” said another participant.

While some additional concerns were raised by councillors at a meeting on Oct. 4, including the possibility of backyard chickens attracting wildlife, producing odours and causing noise, an 8-3 vote ultimately approved them with a limit of four hens per lot.