Roselle OKs backyard chickens

Roselle will allow residents to raise backyard chickens, but setting up a coop won’t be as easy as boiling an egg.

Under the village’s newly adopted rules, residents can raise no more than five egg-laying hens, only in fenced rear yards, if they obtain a chicken-keeping village permit and pay a $50 annual registration fee. The village will issue up to 20 permits throughout Roselle.

In addition, the chicken coop and run must be located at least 15 feet from all property lines and no less than 30 feet from the nearest primary dwelling. Roosters are strictly prohibited.

Roselle joins a lengthy list of suburban towns that have legalized backyard chickens but with limitations. The hobby has taken off with families who want a source of fresh, humanely produced eggs.

Residents in Roselle first proposed the idea to village trustees in March 2023. After multiple board discussions about zoning regulations, trustees voted 4-2 this week to allow chicken-keeping within the village.

Would-be chicken owners will need to register for a free livestock premises ID from the Illinois Department of Agriculture. They will also need to complete a license application with the village, which includes the $50 yearly fee. Chickens will be permitted only on residential-zoned property occupied by the owner.

“The discussions this spring were focused on drafting ordinances that balance the interests of residents who want to keep chickens with the interests of the people living next door,” Community Development Manager Caron Bricks said in a statement.

Trustee Wayne Domke said he appreciated the effort that went into the final version. Still, Domke and Trustee Lee Trejo voted “no.”

Chickens must be kept in a covered coop with an attached, enclosed outdoor area (run) that is fenced to prevent the birds from encroaching onto neighboring properties. And chicken feed must be stored in rodent-proof containers to help deter pests.

“When we compare coop setback requirements and the average lot size in Roselle, our analysis shows that about half of residential properties would be ineligible for chicken keeping, so chickens may not even impact most residents,” Bricks said in the statement.

Chicken keepers will be required to register with the village once every year. The village prohibits the sale of eggs. A building permit is required for all chicken coops and fences.