Urban Chickens come to Nashville

Urban Chickens come to Nashville!

This Week Metro Council of Nashville TN voted to allow people living in Residential zoning districts to raise Hens in their backyards. For an annual $25 permit fee, residents will be allowed to keep 2, 4, or 6 hens, depending on the size of their property. Chickens will not be allowed in the front yards and no Roosters are permitted.

Urban Chicken Advocates of Nashville has worked for Two Years to make this happen. Julie Simpson, who founded UCAN and lives in West Meade said that she "and about two dozen other core members plan to apply for permits immediately".

A "sunset" provision was written into the bill allowing for a review in two years. Eight of the 35 Council areas were exempted through an amendment that was added. Those districts included Hermitage, 6 southeastern areas in the county and one west Nashville district.

District 31, represented by Fabian Bedne opted out immediately because they are already struggling to sell their homes and felt that having neighbors with chickens could make it that much more difficult.

So other than these 8 districts, you can put up your coop and look forward to Fresh Eggs in the morning.

We recommend that if you live in a PUD with a homeowners Association that you check with the board before the neighbors hear the clucking in the morning.