YORKTON — Yorkton residents will soon be allowed to keep backyard hens under a newly approved bylaw.
City council approved amendments to the animal control bylaw, formally allowing hens within city limits under a controlled licensing system.
The bylaw introduces an annual urban hen licence fee of $75 and caps the program at five licences city-wide. A waitlist will be created if applications exceed that limit.
The decision follows a pilot project that concluded on Sept. 30, which allowed one resident to keep hens. City administration says the new rules build on that trial while adding clearer standards for enforcement, animal care and zoning compliance.
Under the bylaw, a maximum of five hens will be permitted per property. Roosters and chicks are not allowed, and residents will not be able to sell eggs, meat or other products.
Strict guidelines have also been put in place for coop construction and placement. Coops and enclosed runs must meet size requirements, be located in fenced backyards and maintain minimum setbacks from neighbouring homes.
Hens must remain in enclosed areas at all times and be kept in their coop between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. Owners are also required to regularly clean manure and bedding and to provide proper food, water, shelter and veterinary care.
City officials say the bylaw includes enforcement measures, such as fines of $200 for keeping hens without a licence, and additional penalties for violations such as exceeding the allowed number of birds or failing to maintain proper conditions.
The SPCA noted it is not currently equipped to house poultry if animals are seized, though space could be adapted. The city estimates a small coop-and-run could cost about $950, with installation costs potentially reaching $1,000.
The bylaw is set to take effect on June 1.
