Planning & Zoning Commission to Discuss Urban Chickens

The Planning & Zoning Commission will hold a meeting on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, to begin discussing Newton's rules on urban chickens. Currently, residents may keep up to four chickens if their property is at least one acre or zoned A-1 Agricultural. Chickens must be kept more than 100 feet from neighboring homes.

The City Council asked the commission to study this issue after hearing from residents during a council meeting on June 2.

Raising chickens in town can offer benefits-such as fresh eggs, education, and reducing food waste-but there are also challenges. These include odors, pests, and neighbor concerns. The July 22 meeting is an opportunity for commissioners to review these issues and provide direction to City staff. A future meeting would likely include a formal recommendation on any possible code changes.

Residents are encouraged to attend this public meeting to stay informed and share their feedback in person.