At-home fowl is proposed for smaller lots
Township residents who live on smaller residential lots would be able to keep chickens and a variety of other fowl under a county ordinance change recommended by the Environmental Resource Committee last week.
Under the proposal, first put forward by the town of Knowlton, landowners with at least a half-acre of land would be able to have up to six fowl, while those with an acre or more could house as many as 12 domestic birds. Currently, only those with a minimum of two acres can possess fowl in the 18 towns that are covered by county zoning.
These new thresholds would apply to county-zoned properties within the rural residential, low-density residential and urban residential districts. In addition to chickens (excluding roosters), these zones would be open to ducks, quail, pheasants, and partridge/ grouse. Knowlton’s petition was previously discussed at the ERC’s August meeting, but at the advice of corporation counsel, it was tabled so staff from Conservation, Planning and Zoning (CPZ) could come up with an official definition of fowl.
The following wording was added: “Domestic birds commonly kept for the production of meat, eggs or feathers, which shall include, but not be limited to, chickens, ducks, geese, swans, turkeys, pigeons, quail, partridge/ grouse, pheasants, peafowl, guinea fowl, ostriches and emus.”
Shad Harvey, the CPZ’s land resources manager, said many of the birds included in the definition of fowl will not be allowed in residential districts due to nuisance concerns. Officials from the town of McMillan wanted to only allow chickens, he noted.
“We wanted to prevent some of the louder or more disturbing birds to be allowed on the (residential) property,” he said.
In rural estate or conservation/recreation districts, however, any type of fowl will still be allowed.
The zoning ordinance requires fowl to be “kept in an enclosure at all times,” which can include a covered structure or fenced-in areas, and these enclosures must be kept in the rear yard, at least 25 feet away from any lot line.
“The fenced enclosure and covered structure shall be maintained and kept in a sanitary condition so as not to create a nuisance,” the ordinance states.
When asked if movable coops would be allowed, Harvey said they should be fine as long as they don’t violate the 25foot setback and fit within the county’s definition of a “structure.”
“If you have something that’s highway-ready, it’s not really a structure – like, if you can hook it up to your car or trailer,” Harvey said.
At the ERC’s Aug. 1 meeting, Knowlton resident Bill Larson said when he moved out into the country he was surprised to learn that he’s not allowed to have the nine chickens he has on his wooded property, even though 50-foot lots in downtown Wausau can have up to four. Larson said he decided to talk to his town chairman about changing the rule.
“We want to do things right and we want to be responsible,” he said.
Knowlton chairman Brian Feit said a rural township should be able to offer the same freedom to own fowl as cities do.
“When you walk around our town, you probably could get rich on the fines because it’s already being done constantly, and nobody has turned those people in,” he said. “When you live out in the country, people believe they should be able to have chickens.”
