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CITY OF WEST CHICAGO
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
ITEM TITLE:
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER: 5.A.
Zoning Text Amendment
Keeping of Chickens on Single-Family Residential
Properties
FILE NUMBER:
COMMITTEE AGENDA DATE: July 14, 2025
Ordinance No. 25-O0-0025 COUNCIL AGENDA DATE:
SIGNATURE OQ=—
APPROVED BY INTERIM CITY ADMINISTRATOR: SIGNATURE
STAFF REVIEW: Tom Dabareiner, AICP
ITEM SUMMARY:
At their April 21, 2025 meeting, the Public Affairs Committee discussed the concept of allowing
chickens to be kept on property used as single-family residential. The members of the Public Affairs
Committee were in favor of the concept and instructed staff to prepare a Zoning Text Amendment to
permit this use. Staff researched the regulations of seven nearby communities who allow chickens on
residential properties and drafted regulations based on this research to be heard at a public hearing
conducted by the Plan Commission.
At the June 3, 2025 Plan Commission meeting, several members of the public provided comments on
the proposal which included support, suggestions for best practices, and potential issues that should
be mitigated. The members of the Plan Commission discussed the proposal and while there was
general support for the concept, the Plan Commissioners instructed staff to meet with residents to
revise the proposed language based on comments raised. The public hearing was thus continued to
the July 1, 2025 meeting to give the opportunity for a resident meeting to occur.
A meeting with the residents who participated at the hearing occurred on June 11, 2025 with eleven
residents invited, five of which attended. The discussion largely centered on how to dispose of chicken
excrement, chicken coops/runs, building permit requirements, and setback distances from lot lines and
other structures. Based on the discussion with the participating residents, staff revised the proposed
Zoning Text Amendment, which can be found attached to this staff report.
At their July 3, 2025 meeting, members of the Plan Commission reviewed the revised text amendment
and voted unanimously (4-0, with three absent) in support of the proposed Zoning Text Amendment.
The members of the Plan Commission included in their recommendation that the text regulating the
keeping of chickens be reviewed in one year.
ACTION PROPOSED:
Discuss and recommend approval of the proposed Zoning Text Amendment to allow the keeping of
chickens on single-family residential properties.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
Attachments: Proposed Zoning Text Amendment
Draft Ordinance 25-O-0025
Plan Commission Recommendation

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ORDINANCE NO. 25-0-0025
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF
THE CITY OF WEST CHICAGO
TO ALLOW THE KEEPING OF CHICKENS
ON SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES
WHEREAS, the City of West Chicago periodically reviews the text of the Zoning Code for consistency
with current trends in development and uses; and
WHEREAS, the keeping of chickens on residential properties for personal use is prohibited by the West
Chicago Zoning Code; and
WHEREAS, the keeping of chickens on residential properties for personal use is beneficial for residents
and should be permitted within the City of West Chicago; and
WHEREAS, the keeping of chickens on residential properties for personal use should be regulated to
prevent adverse impacts on neighboring properties; and
WHEREAS, the City of West Chicago has proposed a zoning text amendment to allow the keeping of
chickens on residential properties for personal use on all properties used as single-family residential; and
WHEREAS, Notice of Public Hearing on said zoning text amendment was published in the Daily Herald
on May 19, 2025, as required by the ordinances of the City of West Chicago and the statutes of the State of IIli-
nois; and
WHEREAS, a Public Hearing was conducted by the Plan Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals of the
City of West Chicago commencing on June 3, 2025, pursuant to said Notice, and concluded on July 1, 2025; and
WHEREAS, at the Public Hearing all interested parties had an opportunity to be heard; and
WHEREAS, the corporate authorities of the City of West Chicago have received the recommendation of
the Plan Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals which contains specific findings of fact, pursuant to
Recommendation No. 25-RC-0012, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit “A” which is, by this reference,
made a part hereof.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of West Chicago, DuPage
County, Illinois, in regular session assembled, as follows:
Section 1. That Article VI of Appendix A, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of West Chicago be
amended to add the following Section 6.30:
“Section 6.30 Chickens on Residential Property
The keeping of chickens shall be permitted on all properties used as a single-family residential dwelling
that are at least 6,500 square feet in area, subject to the following conditions:
1. No more than 6 hens are permitted to be kept on a single zoning lot at any given time.
2. Roosters are prohibited.
Ordinance 25-O-0025
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3. A chicken coop shall be required with a minimum setback of 5 feet from all property lines and a
minimum size of 6 square feet per chicken. Chicken coops shall only be permitted in the rear yard.
4. A chicken coop that is permanently affixed to the ground shall require a building permit and shall
be prohibited within a recorded easement.
5. A chicken coop may not be located within the principal structure or any other accessory structure
on the property.
6. A covered and enclosed chicken run shall be required. The chicken run shall be located on the side
of the chicken coop furthest away from the nearest property line and shall be oriented toward the in-
terior of the property, away from the property line.
7. All feed shall be maintained in rodent-proof containers.
8. No slaughtering is permitted on the subject property.
9. No sales of eggs are permitted.
10. No other poultry, livestock, or other farm type animals are permitted.
11. All areas where hens are kept shall be clean, sanitary, and well maintained at all times with little to
no accumulation of any waste or refuse. All refuse and waste shall be disposed of in a clean and
sanitary fashion. In addition, all areas where hens are kept shall not produce or cause odors that are
detectable on adjacent properties.
12. No refuse, waste, feed, or any other materials used or generated from the keeping of hens shall be
located closer than 5 feet from any property line.
13. Chicken coops shall be maintained in a manner that provides adequate lighting and ventilation, and
protects hens from cold weather, precipitation, rodents, and predators.”
Section 2. That Section 11-85 of Division 6, of Article II, of Chapter 11, of the Code of Ordinances of
the City of West Chicago be amended as follows:
“Sec. 11-85. Certain animals prohibited.
Possession of a lion, tiger, leopard, ocelot, jaguar, cheetah, margay, mountain lion, lynx, bobcat,
jaguarundi, any hybrid thereof, or any other similar feline animal, bear hyena, wolf coyote, wolf-
dog or coyote-dog hybrid, any member of the crocodilian family, poisonous reptile, or any other
life threatening reptile or any other animal which is ferae naturae in the eyes of the law shall be
prohibited except by any person or institution possessing state and/or federal permits enabling
them to keep such animals.
Possession of any roosters; ehiekens or any similar fowl, except hens that are permitted under
Section 6.30 of Appendix A of the Code of Ordinances of the City of West Chicago, or hybrid
thereof is also prohibited.
Possession of any livestock including but not limited to cattle, calves, horses, sheep, swine,
goats, or other farm-type animals shall be prohibited except that horses may be kept on a proper-
ty zoned ER-1, in accordance with section 9.1 of Appendix A of this Code of Ordinances, and on
a property zoned ER-2, in accordance with section 9.1-1 of Appendix A (the Zoning Code) of
this Code of Ordinances.”
Ordinance 25-O-0025
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Section 3. That the regulations contained in this ordinance shall be reviewed by the West Chicago Plan
Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals on August 4, 2026.
Section 4. That all ordinances and resolutions, or parts thereof, in conflict with the provisions of this Or-
dinance are, to the extent of such conflict, expressly repealed.
Section 5. That this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect after its passage, approval and publication in
pamphlet form as provided by law.
PASSED this 21* day of July, 2025.
Alderman J. Alcantar-Garcia Alderman D. Beebe ee
Alderman S. Santiago ee Alderman J. Sheahan ee
Alderman D. Carreto-Mufioz Alderman A. Hallett ee
Alderman S. Dimas ee Alderman M. Birch Ferguson |
Alderman C. Swiatek ee Alderman J. Smith, Jr. ee
Alderman C. Avifia Soto ee Alderman R. Stout ee
Alderman M. Myers ee Alderman J. Morano ee
APPROVED as to form:
City Attorney
APPROVED this 21‘ day of July, 2025.
Mayor Daniel Bovey
ATTEST:
Executive Office Manager Valeria Perez
PUBLISHED:
Ordinance 25-O-0025
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EXHIBIT “A”
RECOMMENDATION NO. 2025-RC-0012
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council
SUBJECT: PC 25-12
A Text Amendment to Article VI of Appendix A of the Code of Ordinances of the City of West
Chicago to Allow the Keeping of Chickens on Single-Family Residential Properties
DATE: July 1, 2025
PUBLIC HEARING
The Plan Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals conducted a public hearing for PC 25-12 commencing on
Tuesday, June 3, 2025 and concluding on July 1, 2025, in the Council Chambers of West Chicago City Hall —
475 Main Street, West Chicago, Illinois.
RECOMMENDATION
After a review of the proposed Zoning Text Amendment as presented, the Plan Commission/Zoning Board of
Appeals finds that the proposed Amendment does not pose a threat to the health, safety and welfare of the
community. It is the Commission’s opinion that the proposed Amendment will be beneficial to the City of West
Chicago.
The Amendment is in keeping with the purpose of the Zoning Code and the Comprehensive Plan. The Plan
Commission is of the opinion that the proposed amendments will protect, promote, and improve the public
health, safety, morals, convenience, order, appearance, prosperity and the general welfare of the citizens of
West Chicago community. The Plan Commission further recommends that the regulations for the keeping of
chickens on single-family residential properties be reviewed by the Plan Commission one year following their
approval.
ROLL CALL VOTE
Yeas (4) Nays (0) Abstain (0) Absent (3)
Laimins Billingsley
Banasiak Henkin
Slattery Kasprak
Terrazas
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara Laimins
Chairperson
Ordinance 25-O-0025
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Proposed Text Amendment to Appendix A (Zoning Code)
of the Code of Ordinances of the City of West Chicago
Chickens on Residential Properties
Underline = New Text; Strikethrough = Deleted Text
ARTICLE VI
Zoning Districts Generally
1. Amend Article VI (Zoning Districts, Generally) to add a Section 6.30 for the keeping of
chickens on properties used for single-family residential, with regulations.
Section 6.30 Chickens on Residential Property
The keeping of chickens shall be permitted on all properties used as a single-family residential
dwelling that are at least 6,500 square feet in area, subject to the following conditions:
1.
2.
3.
10.
11.
12.
13.
No more than 6 hens are permitted to be kept on a single zoning lot at any given time.
Roosters are prohibited.
A chicken coop shall be required with a minimum setback of 5 feet from all property lines and
a minimum size of 6 square feet per chicken. Chicken coops shall only be permitted in the rear
yard.
A chicken coop that is permanently affixed to the ground shall require a building permit and
shall be prohibited within a recorded easement.
A chicken coop may not be located within the principal structure or any other accessory
structure on the property.
A covered and enclosed chicken run shall be required. The chicken run shall be located on
the side of the chicken coop furthest away from the nearest property line and shall be
oriented toward the interior of the property, away from the property line.
All feed shall be maintained in rodent-proof containers.
No slaughtering is permitted on the subject property.
No sales of eggs are permitted.
No other poultry, livestock, or other farm type animals are permitted.
All areas where hens are kept shall be clean, sanitary, and well maintained at all times with
little to no accumulation of any waste or refuse. All refuse and waste shall be disposed of in a
clean and sanitary fashion. In addition, all areas where hens are kept shall not produce or cause
odors that are detectable on adjacent properties.
No refuse, waste, feed, or any other materials used or generated from the keeping of hens shall
be located closer than 5 feet from any property line.
Chicken coops shall be maintained in a manner that provides adequate lighting and ventilation,
and protects hens from cold weather, precipitation, rodents, and predators.