Havasu Greenlights New Code for Backyard Chicken Keeping

The Lake Havasu City Planning and Zoning Commission approved changes to the city code on Wednesday, allowing residents in single-family homes to keep up to six fowl in their backyard.

This decision coincides with the upcoming Arizona House Bill 2325, which will take effect on September 14. The bill prohibits cities from restricting the keeping of fowl in backyards statewide. Applicable to single-family detached residences, it specifically targets properties that are half an acre or smaller.

Despite this limitation, municipalities can impose certain restrictions.

Planning Division Manager Chris Gilbert highlighted that according to the bill, all single-family residential properties in Arizona must be allowed to keep backyard fowl under specific conditions. Consequently, the city will introduce a code to classify backyard fowl as an “accessory use” with outlined restrictions. Residents may keep up to six fowl, excluding roosters, in an enclosure. This enclosure must adhere to size and height limits and be located at least 20 feet from neighboring properties. Feed must be stored properly, and manure disposed of twice weekly.

The state defines fowl as “a cock or hen of the domestic chicken.”

During the discussion, various Planning and Zoning Commissioners expressed surprise at the bill’s passage. Commissioner David Diaz remarked, “This is just fowl,” while Chair Jim Harris commented, “I don’t believe it.”

City Manager Jess Knudson criticized the bill, viewing it as an overreach by the state into local governance. “Our residents and our council should decide about backyard fowl in Lake Havasu, not the state of Arizona,” Knudson remarked.

Knudson compared the fowl issue to Airbnb rentals and state-imposed regulations on vacation rentals. He also questioned the enforceability of the new city code given the bill’s language. “The city and the state will be unable to inspect private property for feed storage or pen conditions,” Knudson said.

The proposed code will be presented to the City Council for final approval in one of their upcoming meetings.