Council Bans Urban Chickens

Metro council voted last night to outlaw backyard chicken coops in urban parts of Nashville.

But several local chicken owners told members the birds don’t pose a nuisance or a health hazard.

During the public hearing a few people spoke against allowing chickens in the city, including Janis Sontany, a former council member and current state legislator. Sontany suggested the birds could drive down property values, or carry disease.

Several others spoke in support of poultry; Daniel Bert is an eye doctor who keeps several hens, and says the worries over health are exaggerated.

“The health concerns that they talk about in my opinion are ridiculous. I’m a doctor and I have no problems at all keeping chickens right next to my back yard. There is absolutely no smell; there’s absolutely no health problem with it.”

Supporters also argued the birds contribute to the local food economy.

Jason Holleman sponsored a proposal to allow poultry on a limited basis. He says it was relatively conservative compared to cities like Los Angeles or Chicago, which place no limit on how many chickens residents can have.

That measure failed 15 to 20.

WEB EXTRA:

See a summary of the two so-called “chicken bills.”