Palouse approves revised poultry ordinance

Garth Meyer, Gazette Reporter | Dec 25, 20140

A new Palouse poultry code has been set. After four years of overall work on the matter, the Palouse city council Dec. 9 voted unanimously to approve an amendment of Ordinance No. 928 regarding chickens and other birds.

The original code – part of the Palouse Municipal Code (PMC) – was written in 1919.

The new rules bar anyone from keeping roosters, turkeys, geese, ducks, peacocks, pigeons, birds of prey or game birds within the city limits.

For chickens, the maximum is now 20 per household with a minimum of 10 square feet per chicken with required setbacks.

Setbacks refer to the distances between fencelines and house perimeters – to allow for proper space between a chicken coop, for example, and a neighbor’s fence.

Other chicken requirements include none running at large, and chickens must be kept in an enclosure that is predator-proof on all sides and top. Any violations are subject to penalties and fines.

Any resident who would like more than 20 chickens must be granted approval by the city council, which is subject to being revoked if any requirements are not met or nuisances committed.

“This makes most people happy, and it still doesn’t satisfy others,” said city council member Bev Pearce. “I think it’s the best thing we can do.”

The new code is now with city attorney Stephen Bishop for final review.

Earlier this fall, the city council voted to prohibit roosters outright within city limits.

For other animals, minimum pasture size remains as in the existing code: 10,000 square feet of pasture for each cow, mule, donkey and horse, and 5,000 square feet for each sheep, goat, llama and alpaca, not including young less than six months of age at their mother’s side.

One pot-bellied pig per household is allowed while under no circumstances are breeding pigs, market swine or pig litters. Pigs must be licensed, in the same manner dogs are.