What came first, the chicken or the egg? For the City of Porterdale it will be a proposed revision to its animal ordinance which will allow for yard chickens within city limits. 

The ordinance, which will come up for final review during the Monday, March 6 regular meeting, allows for three small domesticated animals per property. That number is in addition to the allowed three dogs or cats previously permitted by the city.

“I’ve never thought of chickens as small, domestic animals, I think of chickens as something in a Styrofoam container in the grocery store and the thought of considering them in the same considering them in the same category as a dog or cat…” Porterdale Mayor Arline Chapman said.  “I’ve never seen anyone with a chicken on a leash, so I thought we have got to make some clarification so the chicken people will know that they can still have Rover and Kitty and have three chickens. Other than that, I think it’s pretty straight forward.”

Small domesticated animals are defined, according to the ordinance, as “rabbits and guinea pigs and fowl, such as chickens, ducks and the like – but excluding guineas, geese and male fowl (such as roosters, toms, drakes, etc.), or other crowing fowl (such as peacocks).”

Requirements in the ordinance include a lot size of at least 1,000 square feet, adequate sanitary housing and an enclosed area to prevent straying.

The ordinance also specifies the rules on other livestock within the city limits, and states “It shall be unlawful to keep hogs, swine and pigs within the city;” however livestock already in the city may be grandfathered in.

A full listing of all of Porterdale’s ordinances is available online at https://www.municode.com/library/ga/porterdale/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=15230.