Raise the Hammer

Seems like PHS has gone from negative to provisionally neutral.

"Public Health Services’ review included an assessment of the risks and benefits of keeping chickens in urban areas. It has been determined that, while some municipalities allow chickens in urban areas under very strict conditions, keeping and maintaining chickens in backyards within an urban setting is not without risk. These risks could be mitigated by following good practices to safeguard disease transmission and through a regulatory tool such as a an urban chicken by-law or through amendments to the City’s Responsible Animal Ownership By-law 12-031....

In addition to the consultation undertaken by Public Health Services, staff contacted four Ontario municipalities which allow chickens to be kept in urban areas, and can summarize the findings as follows:
* all have by-laws which include requirements as to number of chickens allowed, location and size of coop, lot sizes and distance restrictions, etc.; and,
* those municipalities report that they receive few complaints; less than five per year each, which is attributed to the fact few urban residents are actually keeping chickens. The general consensus is that distance restrictions disqualify a number of residential lots and “its just too much work” for most people. Those that do choose to keep chickens abide by the regulations in order to be good neighbours and avoid complaints.

Should Council deem it appropriate to invest significant time and resources into further exploration of the issue, staff could prepare a comprehensive by-law and details related to the staffing and financial resources that would be required to oversee and regulate the keeping of chickens in urban areas of the City.

If Committee/Council decide not to pursue further work on permitting urban chickens by By-law amendments, this matter can be deemed complete and removed from the Planning Committee Outstanding Business List."

http://www.hamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyres/29025858-8303-4317-95C1-D9D9E344CC9F/0/Dec04EDRMS_n381211_v1_8_4_PED12247.pdf