Residents in Tecumseh will be allowed to keep hens in their yard, provided it is big enough and they are willing to do the paperwork.
Town councillors signed off on a two-year pilot project on Tuesday night.
Those who want to keep hens will have to apply for a license, and the requirements are rigorous.
"This program is not for the faint of heart," said Councillor Andrew Dowie. "This is for those individuals who this is part of their lifestyle, that they're willing to invest in coops, invest in cleanliness, and invest in the ongoing licensing fee."
Those with a property of up to 10,000 square feet will be allowed to keep six hens, and an additional hen for every extra 3,000 square feet up to 12 chickens.
Tecumseh Councillor Andrew Dowie attends a special meeting of council on December 13, 2016. (Photo by Ricardo Veneza)
Dowie recalled how Tecumseh did once allow chickens under an animal control bylaw, but bylaw enforcement could not keep up with complaints about rodents. As a result, councillors banned hens.
"By introducing the licensing fee, we changed course," he explained. "The administration did a lot of work, and they put out some pretty reasonable ground rules that will allow those who are serious about this to continue."
Dowie does not believe many applicants will come forward. He points to Kitchener, which also licenses backyard hens, where only 12 applicants applied. If the numbers hold, he does not expect more than a handful of residents to complete the process.
"I don't expect it to be incredibly popular because there are a lot of steps that you need to take, and a lot of investment that is required," he said.
The administration will study the issue over the next two years, and at that time, councillors will decide whether to make the licensing regime permanent.
