Bloomington City Council approves ownership of chicken coops in city limits

Posted on May 14, 2019
Tari Renner
On Monday, the Bloomington City Council approved new zoning laws to allow residents to apply for a permit for ownership of a chicken coop inside city limits. (WJBC)

By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – Residents in Bloomington might have a new neighbor, but in the form of chicken’s.

On Monday, Bloomington City council approved a special use permit to Karla Lane to raise 12 chickens at 3402 and 3404 E. Oakland Ave. Special use permits will allow residents to apply for a permit for ownership of a chicken coop inside city limits. Speaking with WJBC’s Scott Miller, Bloomington City Manager Tim Gleason said residents will have to apply for a permit to house the coop, but permits are only approved on a case-by-case basis.

“Instead of it being an automatic right of the property owner, they have to apply for a special use permit,” added Gleason. “So we are dealing with it case-by-case.”

Gleason added although original discussions were a bit controversial, the first permit was a no question decision.

“In this case, it came before council last night and it was an easy one,” said Gleason. “It is nearly a 5-acre track on a rural city inside the city limits. The property owners made that request and it was approved unanimously.”

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].

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