Did Arlington Task Force Chicken Out?

It's six of one, half dozen of the other with the lack of a solid decision by Arlington County’s Urban Agriculture Task Force over whether to relax rules that would make it easier for residents to keep chickens in their backyards.

The Arlington County Board earlier this month accepted a report from the task force that offered 27 recommendations, but the issue of the backyard birds was not included as "priority item."

Some residents' groups have argued that the county should relax the rules for keeping backyard fowl but others say no thanks, arguing that the birds can be noisy, messy and pose health risks.

The task force didn’t reach consensus on the topic, and its plan includes drafting two reports that present alternative viewpoints and recommendations on the chicken issue.

One recommendation is to reduce setback requirements that allow chickens on a property from 100 feet to 20 feet, but another report says no chickens, no way, no how.

For now, the rules remain the same. 

Do you think residents should be able to keep backyard hens? Would you like to keep hens in your backyard? Would you be OK with your neighbors keeping hens? Tell us in the comments below.