City begins research on backyard chickens

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — City council has officially begun researching options for backyard chickens within city limits. 

At the end of the August 11th regular meeting of the City of Fort St. John council, Councillor Jim Lequiere read a formal notice of motion to staff for a backyard chicken bylaw.

During the previous meeting on July 28th, Lequiere began the lengthy process involved with requesting a new bylaw by providing a notice to staff that he was interested in a bylaw for backyard fowl. 

The next step, a formal notice of motion, requests staff begin researching what would be required and involved in creating the bylaw. 

During the July meeting, staff had explained the roadblock to backyard birds had, in previous years, been due to a lack of available service providers for abandoned and injured chickens. 

Due to this lack of service providers, while a bylaw was previously considered by council, individuals residing within city limits currently are not allowed to keep backyard chickens. 

Following Lequiere’s notice of motion, city staff will now start compiling a list of potential service providers that could care for backyard fowl in the event they become available to city residents. 

The results of this research will be presented by staff at a future council meeting.