Information on Keeping Chickens in Aurora

From the Auroragov.org website:

Chickens

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The Aurora City Council revised city ordinances on March 24, 2014, to allow up to four hens in residential backyards. The ordinance, which requires a permit before any chickens are allowed on the property, will take effect Monday, April 28, 2014. 

Questions & Answers

When can I get chickens?
Applications for a chicken permit will be accepted beginning Monday, April 28. Chickens may not be legally kept in any residential area before a permit for the property is approved.

Can anyone get chickens?
Permits will only be awarded to people living in single-family residences. If renting, signed consent from the property owner is needed before a permit will be issued. Homeowner associations (HOA) can prohibit chickens according to their bylaws. It is recommended you check with your HOA before applying for a permit.

How do I obtain a permit?

• Create a drawing of your backyard, including the fence-lines and your house. Draw where you intend to locate your chicken coop and the hen’s outdoor enclosure. Include the approximate dimensions of the coop and outdoor pen in your drawing.  Indicate the distance the coop is from the fence-lines.
• The coop must be at least 15-feet away from abutting neighbors. You must obtain written consent from any neighbor closer than 15-feet from the chicken coop. If you rent, written consent from the property owner or landlord must be obtained before a permit will be issued.
• Bring your drawing, and written consent from neighbors or landlord if required, to the permit counter in the Aurora Municipal Center, 15151 E. Alameda Parkway, 2nd floor south, room 2400.
• Pay the one-time permit fee of $40.
• A permit may be revoked for conviction in municipal court of violating city ordinances closely related to keeping chickens (animal-related ordinances, fencing ordinances, etc.). 

How many chickens can I have? Once a permit is obtained, a maximum of four (4) hens may be kept. Roosters are not allowed. Hens of other species are not allowed. (i.e. pea fowl hens, guinea fowl hens, others).

What are the requirements for a chicken coop?Hens must be provided with a covered, predator-resistant chicken coop that:

• Provides at least two square-feet of space per hen.
• Has floor space no larger than 120 square-feet in size.
• Is properly ventilated and designed to be easily accessed, cleaned and maintained.
• Is located next to an enclosed fenced area that is at least six square-feet in size or larger to allow the hens outdoors during the day. The fence must adequately protect them from predators.
• Chicken coops and enclosures must be kept neat and sanitary at all times. They must be cleaned on a regular basis to prevent offensive odors or excessive build up of chicken waste.
   

What are the requirements for maintaining my chickens?

• During daylight hours, the hens must have access to the chicken coop and the outdoor enclosure.
• Hens must be secured inside the coop from dusk to dawn.
• Hens must be sheltered or confined to keep them from running at large.
• Chickens must be prevented from coming into contact with wild ducks or geese or their excrement.
• Owners must maintain their chickens in accordance with city standards of humane care for animals. Sec. 14-13 Humane Care
• Chickens may not be slaughtered in residential areas.

Example of a chicken nesting box

The Aurora Animal Care Division recommends people interested in raising chickens research the topic before applying for a permit and obtaining their hens. 

Good sources of information include:  CSU extension factsheet, “Backyard Chickens”  

  

CSU Extension factsheet, “Home-Produced Chicken Eggs”

Example of a chicken coop and outdoor enclosure

 Links to information on keeping chickens:

• Chicken Keeping 101
• Chicken Diet and Nutrition
• Chicken Illness, Injury & Disease
• Raising Baby Chicks
• Chicken Keeping Resources & Products
• Chickens & Kids
• Wing Clipping

 

Links to information on chicken coops:

• Chicken Coop Designs
• Chicken Coops 101
• Choosing the Right Chicken Coop

CDC warning about salmonella cases linked to backyard chickens.
If you have questions, please contact the Animal Care Division, 303-326-8288 or animalcare@auroragov.org.

How to Work with Your HOA

Now that we've convinced the city to allow hens (woot!), many of you who live in an HOA may want to try to change the board's mind about allowing hens. Most HOAs do not, at this point, allow them. The Aurora ordinance specifically says that HOAs have the right to override the city's ordinance on this issue, meaning they can say no.

If you want hens and cannot relocate to a new area, consider if you think you have a chance with your HOA. Then do what we have done with the city: talk to someone on the Board, get the word out to your neighbors, educate people (a great place is the speeches people gave at the City Council Meeting - starting at 1:00:27), get signatures from neighbors (find out if there is a specific format the HOA would like), and then present to the HOA.

From Daisy, one of our Chicks in Aurora members: "I was on the Board of Directors for an HOA, and the best way to get support, as others have said, is to talk to your neighbors first, ask them if they'd be for or against, and ask why. Then research, and have answers at the ready for when the same questions will come up in the HOA meeting later. A presentation with color graphics and photos will always help too! It's not impossible, that's the good news. We probably changed our minds and rules nearly 50% of the time based on solid facts. But the feelings of others can be very strong, and they may be the power as well, sooo... Prepare and be considerate and armed with knowledge and a smile."

It may take a while, but it's not impossible, especially as you prevent facts: well cared-for hens and well-made coops are not eye sores (cannot be seen from the front of the house at all!), and don't harbor disease or create too much noise. As HOAs see that it isn't a problem in the rest of the city, and as you educate your neighbors and get support, the likelihood of their allowing hens will increase.

Good luck!

March 2014 Update On Chickens Permits

Update on Chickens

From Neighborhood Services in Aurora:

Many people are eager to have backyard chickens, and we want to make certain our processes are all in place to make it easy for our residents.

The ordinance to permit up to 4 chicken hens on single family properties in residential zone districts was introduced and approved by City Council on February 24th.  The ordinance is on the March 24 City Council agenda for the final reading.  Upon approval at the final reading, it will become effective on April 28, 2014. We will use the Permit Counter on the 2nd floor. A working group is being formed to accomplish the following items to assure that we have our processes in place and ready for business once the ordinance is effective.  This will include the following:

1.    Work with IT to include chickens in the AMANDA Program data

2.    Determine if this permit can be done on-line.  (On-line permit may not be ready right-away)

3.    Design permit form

4.    Train staff at Permit Counter, Animal Care and Neighborhood Support on requirements to obtain a permit

5.    Work with Communications and Neighborhood Services staff to place information about chickens on the City Web

6.    Handling of complaints

Please let us know if you have questions.  Thank you.

So Impressed!! Ordinance Approved!

Thank you to the seventy or so folks who came to the City Council Meeting Monday night! Your speeches and our showing made a huge difference, and the three nays had to more or less apologize. The heartfelt speeches - including some awesome youth, a marine, and citizens from all over the city - were powerful! The ordinance was voted in - chickens will be approved in Aurora. We still have two more steps to take, but these should go through without problem. There is one more vote that has to happen but votes rarely change at this stage. When I get details from Sally Mounier I will post them. Then it has to be put into the code. Sally suggested that once it is approved, we can be fairly sure that it will become an official ordinance legalizing chickens this summer.

You did what???!!!

Nice work y'all!!

Please Call City Council Before Monday's Meeting

For our last, important push before Monday's vote (so today or tomorrow), please do the following, per Sally's urging: 

Here follows what I believe will work to impress Councilman Bob Roth.

This is a two step process:

1. Call the Aurora City Council Office at 303.739.7015 M-F between 8am – 5pm.  You will reach a live person.  Say “I am an Aurora citizen, and I am supporting the chicken ordinance.  Please count me in as in favor of allowing chickens."
2. Then ask to be connected to Bob Roth’s office.  You will leave a message saying, "My name is XXXX and I am a citizen of Aurora.  I hope you will change your mind and support letting us have a few hens.  Thank you."

This will do two things…let the council staff keep accurate, by the numbers, track of the support for or against chickens.  And two, will give Roth brief, concise messages that there is a great deal of support for chickens.

3. Lastly, I would ask the group to email Bob Roth the reason for their support for chickens.  His email address is robert.c.roth@gmail.com.  

That should have a positive affect on our efforts. 

Thanks, Sally

Arapahoe County Chicken Friends

There is another dedicated group of gallusfiles who are working to get backyard chickens approved in Arapahoe County. Their Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/ArapahoeChickens and their change.org petition is https://www.change.org/petitions/arapahoe-county-commissioner-nancy-doty-allow-food-producing-animals-in-arapahoe-county. If you are in Arapahoe county, please sign the petition and "like" the page. What Arapahoe County does will not affect those of us in the city of Aurora, even if you are in Arapahoe county, but all areas that allow chickens support each other.

We in the city of Aurora are down to the wire as far as getting the ordinance passed in the city. Please come to the City Council Meeting if you can to represent our group. You are encouraged to speak but do not have to - just your presence will speak your support. If you want to speak, you need to sign up just before the meeting.

City Council meeting
Date/Time:	Mon, Feb 24, 2014 7:30 p.m.
Location:	Council Chambers   Map 15151 E. Alameda Parkway Aurora, Colorado 80012 Event resides in Aurora.
Contact:	Janice Napper, 303-739-7094
A Study Session will be held prior to the City Council meeting. Information regarding the time and location will be posted as it becomes available.

COME TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO SHOW SUPPORT AND SPEAK

WE ARE THIS CLOSE BUT HAVE COME UNDER FIRE!

There is an Aurora City Council meeting on February 24th at 7:30 pm, where the ordinance to approve chickens will be voted on by council. It was approved in Study Session but can be voted down here - especially since there are members on council who are adamantly opposed and fighting dirty (twisting the truth and being really rude).

We really really really need you to show up for this council meeting. You do NOT have to speak, but are encouraged to do so. Sally Mounier is going to try and ask the supporters to stand. Bob Roth is also likely to rally people who are against this to be there (he is opposed and is organizing folks to fight it, despite the fact - and because of the fact - that we got our six yes votes we needed).

I know we are all busy and have our day to day lives, but this could really make or break us moving forward. PLEASE SHOW UP! Please consider speaking.

Sally Mounier has been working really hard to get things to this point, and is not planning on letting the ordinance stay where it is at (there are a few parts we don't really like that we have compromised on in order to get it passed.) There have to be compromises *at this point*. If this vote FAILS we will need to raise around $75,000 to *try* and get it on the ballot, during which time chickens will still be illegal. The ordinance as it stands gets our foot in the door.

Again, PLEASE COME TO THE COUNCIL MEETING ON FEB. 24th at 7:30 pm. If you want to speak in support of chickens in Aurora, you have to sign up before the meeting. Rally your neighbors, your friends and anyone you know that is able to show up.

If you're on Facebook you can let us know you will be coming if you like, https://www.facebook.com/events/636012036434366/?ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular

If it gets approved at this meeting - which it should, but again, feelings are high about the issue - then the ordinance will go through one more vote and be approved.

________________________

City Council meeting
Date/Time:	Mon, Feb 24, 2014 7:30 p.m.
Location:	Council Chambers   Map 15151 E. Alameda Parkway Aurora, Colorado 80012 Event resides in Aurora.
Contact:	Janice Napper, 303-739-7094
A Study Session will be held prior to the City Council meeting. Information regarding the time and location will be posted as it becomes available.