Urban Homesteading is all about self sufficiency — wherever you live. It's about using less energy, eating wholesome local food, involving your family in the life of the community and making wiser choices that will improve the quality of life for your family, your community and the environment around you.

Backyard chickens can play a large part in an organic, natural lifestyle by providing organic eggs, fertilizing gardens, as well as becoming beloved family pets.  According to urbanfarmliving.com, 10 chickens produce less waste than a 40 lb dog, and hen clucks are not audible beyond 25 ft.  Properly built and clean coops do not produce a bad smell and the waste can be used as compost to fertilize organic gardens, another great way to save money on whole foods. 

Also, the therapeutic effect of a small flock is beneficial, especially in these days where isolation and lack of social interaction due to Covid was brought about. The peeps are great company to both children and adults.

We believe that small-scale chicken keeping is a healthy, economic, and sustainable way to feed and enrich our families and our community. Besides making great pets, hens provide us with fresh eggs and encourage local sustainable living. The ability to raise chickens offers educational opportunities for our children.

Thank you for considering joining us in this request to the Board!  We need 75% of the neighbours (57 households) to agree that allowing hens (not roosters) at Laurel Springs is an acceptable manner to urban homestead.

For residential zoning, The Town of Chapel Hill Chicken Ordinance currently reads as follows:

Agriculture, female chicken: The use of land for the keeping of female chickens in accordance with the following regulations:

(1) No person shall allow his or her female chickens to run at large.

(2) It shall be unlawful for any person to keep more than ten (10) female chickens.

(3) Female Chickens must be kept a minimum of thirty (30) feet from the nearest residence other than that of the owner and may not be kept between the street and a line drawn parallel to the street facing walls of a residence.

(4) All female chicken houses and lots must be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition at all times.

(5) It shall be unlawful to raise female chickens for commercial purposes. Also,

https://www.orangecountync.gov/350/County-Animal-Ordinance