Novato Expands Hen-Raising Eligibility: Report

NOVATO, CA — More Novato residents can now raise hens, as the City Council has allowed residents of non-rural agriculturally zoned areas to keep the animals in their yards, the Marin Independent Journal reported.

On Nov. 16, the City Council voted to let people living in areas zoned for medium-density single-family homes raise up to 12 hens in their yard, provided their property has a lot size of 5,000 square feet, the newspaper said.

Residents of those zones who want to keep more than 12 hens must obtain a conditional use permit, which would be subject to a public vetting process, according to the Journal.

The Council also granted hen-raising permissions to residents of properties in multifamily zoned areas, the Journal said, though those will have to obtain a permit from the city regardless of the number of hens, the Journal said.

Read more from The Marin Independent Journal.