All Over Albany

The proposed Albany chicken amendment

Following up on the Albany chickens story, here are the main points from the amendment drafted by common councilman Dominick Calsolaro to allow hens in the city...

+ The amendment would only allow hens -- no roosters, and no other farm animals.

+ People wishing to keep hens would have to get a permit from the city clerk.

+ There will be a fee associated with the permit (equal to the fee paid for a dog license).

+ The application for a permit would have to be accompanied by:

"adequate evidence that the applicant has notified all of the property owners and residents within 50 feet of the property lines of the property on which the hens are to be kept and in the case of multifamily dwellings, the express written consent of the owner of the building and all tenants residing in the building other than the applicant"

+ The application would grant the city's codes office the right to inspect the property "at any reasonable time."

+ Inspections will look to see that the hens have a pen, that it's in good repair, clean, and "free of vermin, obnoxious smells and substances." Other criteria include a lack of noise, and suitable conditions for the health of the hens. The pen would also have to be 15 feet from any building capable of housing people.

+ If an inspection finds people aren't following the rules, the permit can be revoked.

The full proposed amendment is embedded after the jump.

Jen Pursley and Michael Guidice -- the couple whose backyard hens set off this discussion -- have organized a coalition to push for a change in the city's laws (they passed along the proposed amendment to AOA). The group appeared at last night's common council meeting. The amendment still has to go to the law committee for discussion before coming up for a vote by the whole council. [YNN] [@leahgolby]

Proposed Albany Chicken Law Amendment

Earlier and elsewhere:

+ There apparently is a bit of a backyard chicken boom right now (with some doubts). Urban chicken advocates say there are a handful of reasons to have a few hens out back (you know, in addition to the eggs).
+ As Naomi reported last year, it is legal to keep chickens in Troy -- but not in Albany or Schenectady.
+ Here's a video tour of Emily Armstrong's chicken setup in South Troy
+ One of the Emily's hens was recently chicken-napped

chicken photos courtesy of Michael Guidice and Jen Pursely