As someone who values the multifaceted benefits of keeping backyard chickens, I am deeply impacted by the current regulation requiring 0.5 acres of land to maintain backyard hens. This provision seems unnecessarily restrictive, especially considering the myriad benefits: fresh nutritious eggs, natural fertilizer, pest control, animal companionship and weed control, to name a few.

For residential zoned proprieties only, I propose we emulate the City of Atlanta's guidelines, which are more conducive to promoting urban agriculture. These regulations set clear limits on the number of hens based on land size: 3 hens for properties under 1/4 acre, 5 hens for properties under 1/2 acre, and 8 hens for properties over 20,000sqft (to reflect the current regulations). This structure provides a balanced approach that caters to different property sizes while promoting food sustainability.

As we face increasing threats to global food security, local urban agriculture is an accessible solution. A ChangeLab Solutions report found that cities with policies supporting urban agriculture have seen improved access to fresh, healthy food. Chickens, as a part of this system, can contribute directly to the household and indirectly to the wider community through their various benefits.

Reforming the regulations can open up opportunities for more families to experience these ecological and economical benefits firsthand. Let's reshape our local legislation to better support urban agriculture and our sustainable future. Please sign this petition to endorse the proposed changes.