Shawano County officials will stay out of the henhouse now that the ordinance governing the birds has been eliminated from the books.
The planning, development and zoning committee agreed May 7 to scrap any reference to chickens or coops from the ordinance dealing with standards associated with farm animals.
Towns, villages and cities within the county will continue to have their own rules and regulations; the county rules applied only to those areas without local ordinances.
The issue was raised earlier this year in the Town of Angelica when officials wrestled with the rules in the hamlets of Angelica, Krakow and Zachow.
County officials said limited staffing prevented them from enforcing any chicken or coop rules, so it was best to simply eliminate the ordinance.
Rules vary depending on the municipality, so anyone interested in keeping chickens should check with their local officials first.
For example, in the city of Shawano, residents can keep up to four hens (no roosters), pay an annual fee of $10 and register with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
In the nearby Town of Wescott, residents can keep chickens on agricultural, woodlands, open spaces and rural residential larger parcels at a rate of up to six chickens per acre. The permit fee is $100.
Up to 12 chickens are allowed per property in Tigerton, again as long as the resident pays an annual fee and registers with DATCP. The village will also conduct an inspection of the site prior to issuing a permit.
kpasson@newmedia-wi.com
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