City of Powell River council has passed the first three readings of an animal control bylaw that allows for the raising of poultry on all city properties.
Council passed the initial readings unanimously at a meeting earlier this month, without any debate. The amendment permits the keeping, in an appropriate enclosure, of up to three poultry in all single family and duplex lots in the city. The bylaw defines poultry as a domestic fowl, duck, goose, turkey and similar domestic birds.
The bylaw amendment came before council in October, but a tied vote meant the third reading was defeated. Mayor Dave Formosa and councillors Chris McNaughton and Jim Palm voted in opposition to it.
Both McNaughton and Palm referred to a letter from Dan Glover, Vancouver Coastal Health’s environmental health officer for the Powell River region, which encouraged the city to describe best practices for the construction of enclosures and management standards in the bylaw, to ensure the humane treatment of poultry and to prevent rodent infestation.
After the third reading was defeated, council passed a motion to refer Glover’s letter to staff to provide a report with recommendations on his suggestions. The report was on the agenda for the November 15 committee-of-the-whole meeting.
Carlos Felip, manager of development services, reported that building standards for chicken coops fall within the jurisdiction of the provincial government, under the BC Building Code.
“The inclusion of ‘city standards’ for the construction of enclosures in the bylaw is not within the city’s fundamental powers and might create unnecessary liability,” Felip wrote in his report. “Staff considers it prudent to instead, guide interested citizens to appropriate sources of information in order that they can comply with the bylaw requirements to construct appropriate enclosures.”
Councillor Myrna Leishman, who was absent from the October 18 meeting, said she “totally supported” the bylaw amendment.
Council is expected to adopt the bylaw amendment at its December 20 meeting.
