Reopening livestock ordinances offers risks and rewards

Is it time to re-evaluate how many, and what kind, of animals can be allowed in Powell city limits? 

That’s the question at least one councilman is thinking about after councilors unanimously denied a recent request for an exception to keep a pygmy goat at an in-town property. 

It may be, but with the recent example of Lovell deciding to continue to keep out chickens fresh in my mind, supporters of keeping more animals in town should be prepared for the possibility that it could go the other way. 

Right now, in Powell, people are allowed up to four chickens and up to two dogs. 

It seems fairly reasonable for the average city dweller, but I can understand why some with larger lots or near the edge of city limits might think those too restrictive. 

There are other ways a city can regulate animals. For instance, in Cody there is no limit on the amount of chickens, but complaints from neighbors could lead to a resident having to get rid of all their chickens, as the law is nuisance based: If your chickens are causing problems, whether you see them as problems or not, you can’t simply point to city ordinance and say you’re in the clear as you could in Powell. 

However, what is positive about policies that rely on neighbor complaints is they usually focus on how the neighbors feel, not just anybody in town. In the Powell case of the goat, the complainant was not a neighbor. 

And again, opening up this door allows for people who have been against people bringing even four chickens into backyards to flock to meetings to try and ban the fowl altogether. There may be a natural assumption that, ‘Hey, this is an ag town, nobody is going to object to more livestock allowed in town.’ But Lovell is surrounded by a lot of farms as well, and enough people told the council “no” when the question of allowing chickens was raised that that town remains fowl free. 

So, if revising ordinances has the potential to open up more cans of worms then would be pleasant, is there a better way? 

There are always exemptions, but as the council members noted, that can open the door to many more exemptions. 

So, is the fight to allow more variety of livestock in city limits worthwhile? Possibly, but supporters should be prepared to defend even the rights they currently have.