The hot topic in the Art City came to a resolution when the city council unanimously approved to amend the code to make the amount of hens allowed on a residential property based on square footage. 

Previous code, established in 2014, allowed six hens in any residential lot regardless of size, but the city said questions were raised concerning the interpretation of the ordinance. The council determined the updated code will allow six hens for properties less than 11,999 square feet, 10 hens for properties 12,000 to 15,999 square feet and 16 hens for properties more than 16,000 square feet. 

The council made a number of changes to the city staff’s updated proposal for amendments, ultimately reducing rules and opting for more hens per property size. 

The city’s original proposal suggested a maximum of 12 hens for properties 16,000 square feet or more, eight for 12,000 to 15,999 square feet, six for 8,000 to 11,999 square feet and four for less than 8,000 square feet. 

“I’m good with it being 12. I wouldn’t mind it being more,” Councilman Jake Smith said. “I wouldn’t mind seeing Springville being on somebody else’s list is higher than everybody else. I like that, actually.” 

Language from city staff to disallow duplexes and twin homes from having chickens was also removed, and the council removed language that said chickens may be kept “strictly for familial gain from the production and consumption of eggs only, and there shall be no sale or income resulting from the keeping of chickens.” 

“I’m probably OK with it without a business license,” Councilman Logan Millsap said. “I’m imagining it more like a lemonade stand, a little kid who tends his flock of six chickens and gets to take pride in selling his eggs to the neighbors.”

Residents who own chickens have addressed the council in public meetings throughout the winter, with many emphasizing the importance of the right to own hens. Brandon Ashby said getting chickens to produce eggs has been “a huge blessing to his family.” 

“We really should maintain those rights,” he said. “And I’m not opposed to that being based on how much land people have and that kind of thing, because we don’t want to be a nuisance to neighbors.

“However, I’m not keen at all about (permitting people). I don’t see the need for that. … We want to keep the small town feel of Springville City. And the last thing that keeps a city’s small town feel is starting to regulate everything that people should have a right to already.”