Hens in Lakewood Pilot Program Moving Forward

There’s just one more step for the pilot project that will allow three Lakewood families to raise hens in the city. 

Lakewood City Ordinance 505.18 notes that it’s illegal to raise chickens in the city.

So, in order for participants to get started, they need a special exemption from Mayor Michael Summers.

On Monday night, Summers — in his capacity as the city’s safety director — agreed to the deal.

Although he has not yet signed the official — and required — paperwork, Summers said he plans to OK the project.

“I think there’s enough merit (to the proposal),” Summers said. “These individuals have worked really hard to find a way to make this successful in Lakewood.”

In September, the city’s animal safety and welfare board , paving the way for the mayor’s approval.

In the proposal, three families will be allowed to raise no more than six hens (no roosters) total, in a coop with at least 1 square foot per bird. The coops are roughly the size of a small toolshed, with an enclosed “run” so the birds can stretch their wings.

Summers said the city’s animal warden will likely follow up with the participants — on Hazelwood, Bayes and Garfield avenues — who are involved with the pilot program.

“We are talking about three highly responsible homesteads,” said Summers. “This allows us to do more experimentation without making a bigger commitment.”

The agreement is good news to April Stoltz, a member of the Hens in Lakewood organization that first pitched the idea to the city's .

Stoltz is not one of the participants in the pilot program, but she hopes to participate should the pilot program expand after one year.

“This is a great first step for this community,” she said. “By the time this goes before city council, we will have done our job educating our neighbors and our brothers and sisters on this issue.”

After the yearlong trial period — and perhaps before — Stoltz said the group hopes to then convince to rewrite the ordinance and allow residents to keep hens as pets.

Lakewood's change is part of a national trend.

In a Virginia community, people can buy backyard coops with their new homes. Neighborhoods in Austin, TX, offer “coop tours.” And cities like Chicago, New York, Seattle, San Francisco and Portland, OR all have ordinances allowing residents to keep hens.

Cleveland City Council voted to end its poultry prohibition in February 2009.

Stoltz said she is excited that Lakewood is joining the ranks of other “forward-thinking” communities.

“I absolutely think the idea of the keeping hens in Lakewood is a progressive idea, and it’s keeping with the local food movement,” she said. “No matter what lever you pull at the ballot box, we all want to eat healthy food.”

Lakewood Patch assistant editor Cory Shaffer contributed to this report.