PROVO -- An ordinance allowing Provo residents to keep chickens on their property passed by a hair -- or is it a feather? -- Tuesday night when the city's Municipal Council voted 4-3 in favor.

The new law allows Provoans living in single-family dwellings in any residential zone to keep between two and six hen chickens, depending on the size of their property. The birds must be kept in a clean, well-ventilated and predator-proof coop. No roosters are allowed.

City Councilwoman Cindy Clark, who helped craft the bill, said it's an increasingly prevalent issue among residents who want to be self-sufficient in a time of economic turmoil.

"The purpose of this is to allow solely the producing of eggs. It's a proposition that seems to be in the forefront right now: urban chickens," she said. "I think there is a clamor right now for Provo citizens that would like to have this opportunity in their neighborhoods."

Other council members, however, brought up concerns from their constituents about noise and disease issues. Midge Johnson, a self-professed chicken lover, said the ordinance could give irresponsible residents too much leeway with which to annoy neighbors -- especially in denser downtown areas.

"That just causes me some concern about how this would play out throughout the whole city," she said. "I have a hard time, even though I would be the first one to go set up a coop."

Several neighborhood chairs spoke during the public hearing to represent both sides of the issue. Kurt Peterson, chairman of the dense Joaquin neighborhood, cautioned council members against approving a citywide rule. He suggested neighborhoods be allowed to opt in or out.

"I frankly think this ordinance has no business in the RC [residential conservation] zone," he said. "You literally have houses abutting commercial businesses. And think about all the smells -- you've got to be careful with these things."

On the other hand, Ray Christensen, chairman of the Wasatch neighborhood, said most of his neighbors favored the proposal. What they did not like, he said, was a requirement to obtain a city permit for the privilege. The final ordinance passed by the council kept this element.

"People just get chickens. That's the way things are in my neighborhood," he said. "Some people are mad about it and don't like it, but most people are like, 'Whatever.' "

The decision was vindication for at least one Provo couple, the Smith Callises, who already have three hens at their Joaquin home. Raquel Smith Callis did not mince words about her then-illegal fowl during the hearing. She said neighbors who visit her coop with concerns often leave without them.

"People realize, 'Oh, these are really beautiful animals, and they have personalities, and they enhance our lives greatly,' " she said. "It's just a beautiful thing, and I hope that you guys allow it."

The chicken law allows for up to two hens on a 6,000-square-foot property, and one more for every 1,000 square feet to a total of six on a 10,000-square-foot lot. The council will revisit the ordinance in one year to decide whether it needs tweaking.

• Ace Stryker can be reached at astryker@heraldextra.com.

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