Please review and know that you can still weigh in by submitting a Public Comment Form prior to the meeting on Monday evening, December 6, 7 PM and you can still contact your Ward Representatives.
KEEPING RESIDENTIAL HENS
SPECIAL PERMIT REQUIRED
(a) Any person who keeps hens in the City of Roeland Park shall obtain a Special Permit from the
City prior to acquiring hens. No permit shall be issued to a person, by the City, and no
hens shall be allowed to be kept unless the owners of all properties within a 50’ radius of
the applicant’s property are notified by certified mail of the date and time of the council
meeting as well as providing contact information of the council or alternate city contact.
(b) Application shall be made to the City Clerk with a (annual) fee of $85.00 if keeping 3 or less
hens; $115 if keeping 4 to 6 hens. Special permits expire and become invalid 1 year after
the date of issuance. A person who wishes to continue keeping hens shall have obtained a
new permit on or before the expiration date of the previous permit.
(c) A person who keeps or houses hens on their property shall comply with all of the following
requirements:
(1) Have been issued the special permit required in this section.
(2) Keep no more than (6) hens.
(3) The principle use of the person’s property must be zoned as defined in Chapter 16 as
single-family use dwelling or two-family dwelling.
(4) The property must be occupied by the person requesting the permit.
(5) No person shall keep any rooster.
(6) No person shall publicly slaughter any hen.
(7) The hens shall be provided with the following minimum enclosure requirements:
a. Hens must be kept in a clean, safe and healthy environment; must be kept in the
covered enclosure at all times; and it shall be Rodent and predator resistant.
b. Enclosure must be inspected by the Building Inspector
i. Enclosure must be built with a minimum of 12 sq ft per hen, not to
exceed 85 sq ft total. (2 sq ft for inside area per hen and 10 sq ft for an
outside run per hen).
ii. Coop is to be completely enclosed (meaning there is a top and sides)
iii. It shall be designed in a fashion to be easily maintained.
iv. It shall be designed with durable materials that will hold up to weather
and environment
v. Used materials and equipment must be approved by the Building
Inspector as referenced in the adopted International Resident Code
(
(8) A person shall not keep hens in any location on the property other than in the backyard.
See definition of backyard in Chapter 16.
(9) Hen enclosure shall not be located closer than 10 feet to any property line of an
adjacent property.
(10) Hen enclosure shall not be located closer than 40 feet to any residential structure on an
adjacent property.
(11) All feed and other items associated with the keeping of hens shall be protected from or
to prevent rats, mice, or other rodents from gaining access to or coming into contact
with them.
(12) Lack of care, illness issues and abuse complaints will be handled through animal control
(?) and protection ordinances.
(13) Chicken odors must not be “perceptible” at the property boundary.
(14) If the above requirements are not complied with, the City may revoke any special permit
granted under this section and /or initiate prosecution for a civil infraction violation.
(City Attorney to help with language)
(15) A person who had been issued a special permit shall submit it for examination upon
demand by any Police Officer or Code Enforcement Officer.
(16) Hens are not to be kept for monetary gain
(17) Veterinary banding of hens may be required
(18) Chicken waste is the responsibility of the owner; no more than three cubic feet of
chicken manure can accumulate. Composting of manure must following City Code
section 15-105; Composting
(19) Commercial chicken operations are prohibited.
(20) Dogs or cats that kill chickens will not be considered dangerous or aggressive animals for
this offense alone.
