Beaver Creek to allow chickens in city limits

The raising and keeping of chickens inside the city limits of Beaver Creek is now permissible, thanks to the efforts of one of its citizens.
Aaron Blank appeared at a recent city council meeting inquiring about housing a small number of chickens within city limits and collecting their eggs for his family’s own consumption.
Prior to Blank’s request, raising chickens within city limits was prohibited.
Councilor Pat Bender worked with Blank to craft the four-page resolution to allow up to five hens in a backyard coop. Council members passed the resolution at their Wednesday, April 13, meeting.
“At first I was totally against it,” Bender admitted. “I thought we were opening a can of worms.”
When a second inquiry about keeping a few chickens in town for egg production surfaced, Bender changed her mind, thanks to Blank’s research.
“I don’t see any downfalls,” Benders said.
Blank said he became interested in raising eggs for his family due to his frequent trips to an area farm for three dozen eggs.
Blank’s wife, Anita, operates a day care and eggs are used daily for breakfasts and the making of baked goods. He also sees the birds as consumers of the family’s leftover meal scraps.
Research into an ordinance specifically for Beaver Creek (pop. 294) wasn’t easy since he couldn’t find any cities of its small size that allow chicken coops and runs within their cities.
Blank said he tailored information from city ordinances whose population is more than a 1,000 times larger than Beaver Creek.
Key elements for the raising of chickens in Beaver Creek are as follows:
•Only chickens are permitted; no other poultry or fowl are allowed.
•A permit is required annually from the city.
•Application requires three documents. These include a building permit, a written consent from neighbors, and the permit itself. All paperwork must be completed and the fee paid before the council acts on any requests.
•Coops and runs must be farther than 15 feet from the property line.
•Manure must be disposed of in a timely manner.
•Chickens must be secured inside a coop from sunset to sunrise each day.
•It is a misdemeanor offense for a resident who is found in violation of the city ordinance.