The Town of Georgina will allow the keeping of hens in urban areas in the community. After a successful pilot project, Council approved the Urban Hens licensing bylaw that will licence, regulate and govern urban hens. It also approved an amendment to the Exotic Animal Bylaw to recognize permission regarding the keeping of urban hens.
“Enthusiasm for urban hens has been growing throughout municipalities in the past few years, particularly as a means of easy and affordable fresh egg production,” said Mayor Margaret Quirk. “The Town recognizes this emerging trend and is putting regulations in place to allow for residents to have backyard chickens.”
A one-time licence fee of $100 will be required for anyone who wants to apply for a licence to keep backyard hens.
The Town’s pilot project began in June 2020 and ended in March of this year. Out of 12 licences issued, seven are in operation. Through the review of the Town’s pilot project, staff found no significant concerns such as odour and noise complaints, abandonment or disease with allowing hens in urban areas.
Some key provisions of the licensing bylaw include:
- A 100-metre minimum separation distance between properties with hencoops required.
- Maximum of four hens per lot.
- Hens must be at least four months old when acquired.
- The keeping of roosters is prohibited.
- Hens must be kept in a locked hencoop from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Hens are only allowed in the rear yard and must be confined to an enclosed hencoop or hen run at all times.
- Sale of eggs, manure and other products associated with the keeping of hens are prohibited.
The Town will provide education materials to anyone applying for an urban hens licence.
For more information on urban hens, visit georgina.ca/UrbanHens.