Fenton has Received Only 1 Chicken Keeping Application

For all the squawking about chickens in the city of Fenton this summer, there has only been one application submitted to house the birds.

City of Fenton Building & Zoning Secretary Linda Davis stated that one application has been approved since the chicken ordinance was passed in September.

The cost of a permit is $25 and there is an annual inspection cost of $25.

In September, after spirited public comment and a failed attempt to allow six chickens, Fenton City Council voted 6-1 to allow residents to keep up to three chickens, with restrictions.

The issue of chicken keeping in Fenton arose when a resident made a complaint about an Adelaide Street residence having chickens. The resident, Malissa Bossardet, asked the city to allow her to keep the which she uses for eggs to feed her family.

Council approved allowing three chickens, with restrictions outlined in the ordinance. In addition, when it approved building and zoning fee increases, council set a $25 fee to cover the cost of annual permits for chicken keeping. Since Fenton's ordinance is regulatory instead of zoning, there are fines for not following it.

Council can revist the issue in a year and make adjustments if needed, said Mayor Pro Tem Cheryl King.