Chickens welcomed now in Marietta

The Marietta City Council agreed recently to allow chickens with the following 11 regulations:

• An accurately scaled sketch of the property must be provided that shall indicate the location of all existing and proposed structures, including coops and fences, as well as their distances from surrounding property lines.
• No roosters shall be allowed.
• The maximum number of chickens allowed on any property shall not exceed four.
• The minimum lot size for the keeping of chickens is 15,000 square feet.
• Chickens may be kept only on properties with an occupied residence.
• Chicken coops may be no more than eight feet in height.
• Chicken coops and the enclosed "run area" shall not be more than 100 square feet in area.
• Chickens must be kept in a fenced area in the rear yard at least 20 feet from any property line and 10 feet from the principal structure. The minimum fenced area for chickens shall be 25 square feet per chicken.
• All coops and surrounding areas are to be properly maintained and kept clean so as not to become a nuisance. Coops and feed are to be secured at all times to prevent any potential nuisance with mice or other rodents and pests.
• A property owner or resident may be required to remove any and all chickens if they are not being properly contained in the manner specified in this section.
• Chickens shall be permitted only as pets or for egg production and not for slaughter.