Arden Hills could allow residents to keep backyard ducks
A flock of ducks in the backyard of a Reading, Pennsylvania home. Photo By Susan L. Angstadt 2/23/2018 (Photo By Susan L. Angstadt/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images) (Getty Images)
ARDEN HILLS, Minn. (FOX 9) - An ordinance change under consideration in Arden Hills could allow residents to keep ducks in their backyard.
Arden Hills reviews chicken ordinance
What we know:
The change comes as the Arden Hills City Council considers scaling back rules for keeping backyard chickens. Among the changes under consideration for chicken flocks are:
- Allowing residents to keep up to seven chickens. The previous limit was three.
- Allowing for larger coop sizes.
- Allowing chickens to roam in a fenced in yard.
- Allowing for chicken coops in detached garages.
Allowing residents to keep ducks
Local perspective:
According to a staff memo included in the council docket, while the city was considering relaxing the rules for chicken coops, staff also looked into allowing backyard ducks, after a suggestion at the planning board stage.
When staff checked around, they found six other cities in the metro that allowed residents to keep ducks, under the same rules as keeping chicken. As a result, city leaders are now considering adding ducks to its ordinance on backyard flocks.
What's next:
On Monday, the Arden Hills City Council will hold a public comment session on the changes to the chicken ordinance. So far, the city has received two comments about the proposal, one for and one against the changes.
The measure was approved at the planning board on a 7-0 vote.