Chicken Ordinance Heads Back To Committee

An ordinance that would allow for broader rights to keep domesticated chickens in Greenville County while cracking down against the practice in specifically zoned areas faced opposition during Tuesday's county council meeting. 

The ordinance, which would allow for more residents to keep chickens on their properties, also calls for the fees and requisite building upkeep, and Councilman Joe Dill expressed concern that some of the language in the ordinance may need to be more thoroughly examined. 

"Rather than worry about it, I'd rather we send it back to committee to work with it," Dill said. 

Chairman Butch Kirven said he had been inundated with calls expressing concerns that the ordinance would actually restrict chicken keeping. 

"That only pertains to a small part of Greenville County," Kirven said. "It doesn't pertain to anyone within the city limits and it doesn't pertain to anyone in any unzoned areas."

Kirven said one woman from Travelers Rest called him and said she thought the ordinance would prohibit her from keeping chickens, which she's done for years. Kirven said he explained that the ordinance does not apply to any municipal jurisdictions, and actually broadens the rights of most Greenville County residents to keep chickens. 

Councilwoman Liz Seman said she believed the ordinance was properly vetted and did not need to be looked at further. 

"I think it's good as it is," she said. 

Kirven suggested that the council approve the ordinance on second reading and schedule an additional public hearing before the third reading, saying there was an abundance of misinformation regarding the proposed law. 

"What it does is it restores the ability of people in certain zoned areas to have domestic chickens, something they've been unable to do under current law for many many years," Kirven said. 

Ultimately, council voted 7-5 in favor of Dill's motion to send the ordinance back to committee.