Brownwood News – The Brownwood City Council met Tuesday morning and spent about 30 minutes discussing a proposed ordinance on keeping chickens in the city limits of Brownwood.

The Council voted to Table the Ordinance until the next Council meeting when all Councilmen could be there to vote.

The proposed Ordinance started in City Council in March then was sent to the Planning and Zoning Commission in late March.  Planning and Zoning worked on the Ordinance through April, May and June.

The proposed Ordinance goes into greater detail than does the current ordinance as explained to the Council by Tim Murray of City Development Services.  (Murray is shown in the photo addressing the City Council)

Under the new Ordinance, only chickens, no roosters, would be allowed in city limits.  No other fowls would be allowed.  Chicken coops and pens would be restricted to back yards only. The maximum number of chickens allowed is eight (8) per residence, though Councilman Ed McMillian is hoping to increase that number to ten (10) saying ten hens can feed a family of four.  The Ordinance also stipulates the size and placement of coops and runs.  An animal control officer said most of the complaints they receive concerns roosters.

Look for this Ordinance back before Brownwood City Council in the near future.