The City Council approved amendments to the City Code to allow and regulate keeping chicken hens inside the city. Council approved those changes on September 10, 2012 and they become effective 30 days later. The animal control ordinance requires that small animal owners obtain a license or permit so that the costs of enforcement, education and monitoring are paid by those owners. The permit fee is set by resolution. Staff is recommending that the City Council adopt the attached resolution that establishes a chicken hen license fee of $25/year and has an effective date that matches the ordinances' effective date.

The City Council may approve or amend the proposed resolution.  Approval will allow Animal Control to collect license fees that help to pay the costs of enforcement, education and monitoring.  The $25 fee was discussed with Council at its August 6 work session.  The Council could change the amount of the fee stated in the resolution.  Disapproving the resolution is not feasible unless the Council also amends the animal control ordinance, which requires that the Council set license fees for animal ownership.

Some sources predict that 1% of eligible households will raise chickens.  There are approximately 40,000 households in Billings, so 400 of them might raise chickens.  If all chicken owners obtain permits, the total estimated revenue is $10,000 per year. 

Staff recommends that the City Council approve the resolution that establishes a $25 annual permit fee for keeping chicken hens within the City of Billings.