Petition to Reform Kenosha’s Chicken‑Keeping Ordinances
To the Kenosha Common Council and City Officials:

We, the undersigned residents of Kenosha, respectfully request a revision of the current city ordinances governing residential chicken‑keeping. While we appreciate the city’s intent to maintain safe and harmonious neighborhoods, the existing regulations are unnecessarily restrictive, financially burdensome, and out of alignment with surrounding municipalities.

1. The Required Public Hearing Is Excessive and Discourages Participation
Kenosha is one of the few municipalities that requires a public hearing for neighbors to voice approval or disapproval of a resident’s chicken coop. This process is:

*Time‑consuming for residents and city staff
*Unnecessarily adversarial for something as simple and common as backyard hens
*Inconsistent with regional norms, where neighbor notification — not a formal hearing — is the standard
*Responsible homeowners should not be subjected to a quasi‑judicial process simply to keep a small number of hens for eggs, education, or homesteading.

2. The $200 License Fee Is Excessive and Out of Step With Neighboring Communities
Kenosha’s $200 fee is dramatically higher than comparable municipalities, which typically charge $10–$55. This inflated cost creates an unfair barrier for families who want to practice sustainable living, reduce food insecurity, or teach children about agriculture.

3. The Overall Ordinance Is Too Restrictive for Responsible Homeowners
Kenosha residents are fully capable of maintaining clean, quiet, well‑managed coops. The current rules — from the hearing requirement to the excessive fee — create barriers that do not reflect modern urban agriculture practices or the values of sustainability, self‑reliance, and responsible pet ownership.

We Request the Following Reasonable Reforms:
Replace the public hearing requirement with simple neighbor notification
Reduce the license fee to align with regional standards ($10–$55)
Update the ordinance to support responsible, small‑scale homesteading

Why This Matters
Backyard hens are quiet, clean, and no more disruptive than common household pets. They provide fresh eggs, educational opportunities, and a path toward greater food independence. Many cities — large and small — have modernized their ordinances to support residents who want to live sustainably.

Kenosha should join them.

We urge the City of Kenosha to revise the chicken‑keeping ordinance to reflect fairness, practicality, and the growing interest in sustainable living.

We, the undersigned, support these changes.

Jack Rose

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