Tell Salem Planning Commission: Chickens aren't livestock!

Revising the definition of "livestock" to exclude chickens will make it much easier for Salem to permit backyard hens. Image via Wikipedia

Please take a moment to send a note to the Salem Planning Commission to ask them to recommend that Salem take chickens OUT of the definition of "livestock." And if you can attend this upcoming Planning Commission meeting, please do.

What: Planning Commission Public Hearing

When: Tuesday, August 18 at 5:30 pm

Where: Salem City Hall, 555 Liberty St., Room 240.

Why: A hearing on whether the Planning Commission should recommend that Salem City Council correct the definition of livestock to exclude chickens. (Livestock is forbidden in residential areas, so if chickens are defined as livestock, then no hens in most of Salem.)

Please send a brief letter or email to the commission staff to urge the Commission to revise the definition of livestock to exclude chickens. Include your name, address.

Bryce Bishop, Associate Planner

City of Salem – Planning Division

555 Liberty Street SE, Room 305

Salem, OR 97301

This change would make it easier to get an ordinance permitting backyard hens and to revise that ordinance without having to go through the detour of the Planning Commission. A backyard hens ordinance will be discussed at a future city council meeting, probably in September. Getting the definition of livestock revised to exclude chickens will make it much easier for Salem to permit backyard hens!

Note that Planning Commission meetings are on Tuesdays, but they are held in the same place and have the same format as City Council meetings (signup to speak, 3 minutes only).

A few days before the meeting on August 18^th, the agenda will be posted online.