Residents of White Lake, Michigan are seeking addition and modification of verbiage in the zoning ordinance to permit single family residential (as well as agricultural and suburban farm) lots to raise chickens and similar animals as livestock. Minimum lot acreage of 0.25 acres would be required. The number of chickens would be restricted to three per 0.25 acres of lot size. The proposal includes requirements for housing and outdoor grazing. No modifications are proposed to existing nuisance and fencing ordinances, as the existing ordinances should provide sufficient tools and methods for management of bad actors and enforcement of non-compliance.

Nearby Jurisdictions Which Permit Chickens In Residential Zones (varying regulations):

Auburn Hills
Berkley
Clawson
Eastpointe
Farmington Hills
Ferndale
Harrison Township
Holly
Lathrup Village
Livonia
Madison Heights
Northville
Pontiac
Rochester Hills
Roseville
Royal Oak
Southfield
Troy
Warren
Westland
Ypsilanti

Other Jurisdictions Across the State:

Ada Township
Ann Arbor
Grand Rapids
Charlotte
Chelsea
East Lansing
Georgetown Township
Holland
Lansing
Muskegon
Norton Shores

Additional Comments:

It should be noted that many of the above listed jurisdictions represent significantly more urban environments than White Lake and have still found it appropriate to permit the raising of these types of animals. Generally speaking, the more urban locations have tighter restrictions on the quantity and location of the animals than is specified in the attached proposal, which aligns with a commonsense approach to livestock management. Therefore it is appropriate that White Lake has regulation which is commensurate with its unique blend of suburban and rural environments.

FAQ:

Q: What about noisy animals?

A: Fowl are generally very quiet animals. In the case of exceptionally noisy animals, our existing nuisance ordinance provides sufficient protection and mechanisms of enforcement to remediate any concerns. For context, Ann Arbor allows chickens and after one year did not have any noise complaints. The proposed regulation errors on the side of management of issues vs unnecessarily restrictive regulation. White Lake features quite a range of rural and suburban environments and we want to ensure that everyone can equally enjoy the benefits of chickens but also provide a means of protection for those who do not.

Full proposal:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dDTNJkQlMO1d06FWlvSjW8zPz5pPoi2FbQM2sXBdHuU/edit?usp=sharing