Some Bakersfield city residents who hope to have chickens in their backyards will have to wait a little longer to find out if it will happen.
Monday, the Bakersfield Legislative and Litigation Committee heard from people wanting chickens in their backyards.
I's called urban farming, people who live in the city use their yards to farm some of their own food. If the city allows it everywhere, it could save people who want it a lot of money.
Linda Snoddy is a 4-H student in Bakersfield. She would like to keep show chickens in her backyard.
"Under the existing ordinance, I have to drive 20 miles one way to care for my chickens at a considerable cost and time and money to my parents. Not to mention adding to the poor air quality in Bakersfield," said Snoddy.
But, critics say chickens will be a nuisance in city neighborhoods, leading to unsanitary conditions and noise issues.
"They make very little noise. A hen may announce she just laid an egg, but that's all you will hear from her all day. My neighbor has a dog who barks all day and that is far more than the soft clucks a chicken makes. That same neighbor also lets him roam the neighborhood, and he loves to leave deposits on my front yard," said Snoddy.
Most people in the city of Bakersfield cannot have chickens unless they get a conditional use permit that costs between $2,000 and $4,000.
But, if the city allowed chickens in all zones, anyone would be able to have a small number of them, possibly up to ten.
Bakersfield residents would have to have a completely enclosed chicken coop to keep them secured.
Some argue with a high number of dogs and cats within city limits, allowing more animals does not make sense.
But, not everyone agrees.
"I mean one or two chickens. Do we really have to go fill out a permit? No one is going to even know if we even have chickens if you only have one or two. It's pretty easy to keep them hidden, but I want it to be legal," said Hannah Austin, who owns chickens.
Roosters would not be allowed since they tend to be noisier, according to the City Manager's office.
The committee deferred the item Monday and plans to bring it back up in November after more information is gathered.
