WESTLOCK — The Town of Westlock’s new chicken bylaw has finally hatched and will require owners to have a permit, no-more than four birds and will ban roosters.
At the July 10 regular meeting, councillors unanimously voted 6-0 to pass the proposed urban chicken bylaw 2023-07, which is now expected to help provide administration and peace officers with clarity and direction on how to respond to complaints and questions from residents. Coun. Abby Keyes was absent.
Coun. Murtaza Jamaly recognized administration for their work and research on the “tricky bylaw” and said it “supports our endeavour to be an agricultural community.”
“(Bylaws) create a framework for everybody to move forward with urban agriculture in a way that makes sense and allows for respectful engagement between gates,” said Jamaly.
Councillors first discussed a need for an urban chicken bylaw at the May 15th, committee of the whole meeting and directed administration to draft a bylaw. It was scheduled to be on the table at the June 12 regular meeting, where councillors were briefed on the bylaw but postponed discussion to July 10.
At the briefing in June councillors were informed of a “drastic increase in the number of inquiries coming into municipal enforcement relating to backyard chickens” and that at the time, the town had “no way of knowing” how many people owned them. Westlock resident Nichole Stadnyk made a six-minute presentation on the proposed bylaw at the meeting and was in attendance July 10 as well but did not speak.
There was no public hearing on the proposed bylaw and following discussion by councillors that included questions about the difference between municipal tags and violation tickets, suggestions on increasing the limit to six chickens from four and comments on community standards, councillors voted to pass all three readings.
Both Coun. Laura Moire and Randy Wold noted the importance of being good neighbours and that includes looking after your animals, which means “looking after your yard, clean up its mess and make sure that it’s not bothersome to your neighbours,” said Wold.
Under the new bylaw residents who currently have chickens as well as new owners, will now be required to complete a permit and the accompanying database will identify how many are in town. Chickens will only be allowed for the purpose of laying eggs for consumption and there is a four-animal limit at the same residence. Roosters will not be permitted and if a permit has been approved and the permit holder contravenes the bylaw, there will be a $250 fine.
Regarding the number of chickens residents can own, mayor Ralph Leriger added that “whether we like it or not, the right number could be eight, 10 or 12,” and said “this has to be written so it is enforceable and we are limited by resources.”
“This bylaw like every bylaw we have is not out looking over the fence to count your chickens but it will be complaint driven, that’s how bylaws work,” explained Leriger. “When we receive complaints, he (the peace officer) has to have something that’s enforceable to go out and do.”
Wrapping up discussion, Leriger noted both sides of the issue need to be heard.
“I would like everyone to remember that we sitting here also have to represent the person who’s living next to someone with animals and respect that they may not like it,” he said. “They need to be represented as well.”
