It’s taken her nearly two years, but City of Charlotte resident, Amanda Lipsey is finally getting her chickens.
“It was kind of a lengthy process,” Lipsey said. “I was so excited when I finally got the permit that I ran out of city hall like a little kid.”
Lipsey led an effort in 2012 to amend the city charter to allow residents to raise chickens within the city limits. The ordinance was adopted in May of 2012 and requires residents to obtain a permit from the City. Part of the permit process requires residents to obtain written approval from any applicant’s abutting landowners, something Lipsey could not fully obtain at the time.
“When I saw all of the stipulations in the ordinance I knew I wasn’t going to be able to do it,” Lipsey said.
She has since moved and was able to turn in her application this past week, complete with written approval from each of her neighbors.
“The second we moved in I realized we could have chickens here,” Lipsey said. “My neighbors were all very open to it.”
According to City Clerk, Ginger Terpstra, Lipsey is the first resident to obtain a permit. An application was taken out last year, however, the applicant could not obtain written permission from all abutting neighbors, Terpstra said.
Permits are good for one year and must be renewed annually. The ordinance amendment also stipulates that owners shall not keep roosters, slaughter chickens on their property, must provide the chickens a covered enclosure and keep the chickens in the enclosure or adjoining fenced enclosure at all times. All enclosures must be constructed or repaired as to keep rats, mice or other rodents from being harbored underneath or within its walls. The enclosures must be at least 25 feet from any dwelling or property line and placed in a property owner’s backyard only.
Lipsey advocated for the ordinance as a way to teach her children about urban homesteading and the value in raising your own food.
“The whole education aspect is very important to me,” she said. “My kids are so excited that they’ve already named their chickens and we haven’t even gotten them.”
Lipsey said she plans to order four chicks and will have the chicken coop and a small chicken run all set this spring.