Elmhurst Eyes Allowing Chickens

ELMHURST, IL – An Elmhurst City Council committee on Monday plans to consider ending the local ban on raising chickens.

The issue came up more than a decade ago, but the ban continued.

Last July, aldermen Emily Bastedo, Chris Jensen and Jacob Hill submitted a request for the city to consider the matter again.

"In the last few years, partly as a result of the pandemic and partly as a result of food price inflation, we have seen concerns about food security become increasingly vocalized by residents," they said in a memo.

More and more suburbs allow residents to raise chickens in their backyards, with restrictions. They include Western Springs, Darien, Lombard and Villa Park.

In La Grange, a resident is gathering support for the village to end its chicken ban.

In Elmhurst, the trio of aldermen said only hens should be permitted. During debates over chickens, opponents often complain about potential noise and lack of upkeep of coops.

In a memo, city staff said the council would need to consider whether to limit chicken coops to residential properties. Other issues are setbacks for coops, a ban on roosters, permitting and enclosure requirements.

All the suburbs that the city surveyed ban roosters, while the majority prohibit on-site slaughtering.

The matter goes before the council's Development, Planning and Zoning Committee at 7 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 209 N. York St.