Despite Arduous Process, BOCS to Vote on Fowl Amendment

Update: In an e-mail to citizens, Coles District Supervisor Marty Nohe notified community members that the BOCS will not vote on the chicken amendment this evening, but will defer it to a work session on Sept. 1 and a public hearing on Oct. 5.

The long-debated countywide as it has been deemed, will finally be brought to another vote by the Prince William County Board of Supervisors tonight.

What began over six months ago is now coming before the board for a potential final vote. After two language revisions requested by the board from public hearings held on Feb. 3 and Aug. 10, the amendment requested for article III of the Agricultural and Residential Districts - Part 300 will include the following changes, if approved:

• The phrase "chickens and other fowl" has been struck from Sec. 32-300.02 which prevents farm animals to be used for accessory purposes on residential lands.
• Chickens, pigeons, doves and other domestic fowl are allowed on lots of two acres or more within A-1, SR-1, SR-3 and SR-5 zoning districts (agricultural and semi-rural areas).
• A chart allocating the maximum number of fowl per acreage has been amended to include lots of 0-1.99 acres (hint: only 10 chickens will be allowed on lots below 1.99 acres). 

Here's where it gets a bit complicated:

• Combinations for types of domestic fowl follow this formula: the maximum combination of approved fowl will not exceed 50 percent of the per-acreage allowance for each fowl kept on the property, multiplied by the number of acres. This formula applies to fowl at least six-months-old. 
  
  • Example: For a 3-acre-unit, the maximum number of different types of fowl would be 15 chickens, nine ducks, six turkeys and three ostriches. 
• Coops, cages or runs for chickens, pigeons, doves and other similar birds are mandatory on lots less than five acres. Here are the restrictions on fowl containers:
  • Must be enclosed with a minimum four-feet-high chicken wire fence.
  • Must be clean, filth-free, garbage and other rodent attractors.
  • Fly traps must be adjacent to cages and runs.
  • Structures for housing these fowl must be in the rear yard, 50 feet from any side or rear lot line and ten feet from any dwelling on any property.
• Troublemakers like roosters and guinea fowl must be contained in a caged area on any lot less than ten acres and said cage must be at least 150 feet back from neighborhood dwellings at the rate of one rooster or two guinea fowl per acre.
• Fowl on lots less than five acres can only be used for egg production; those on more than five acres and less than 10 can be used for domestic "dispatch" uses only.

The Board of County Supervisors will vote on this amendment during their regular meeting today at 7:00 p.m. in the chambers at the James McCoart Administration building.

To view the full motion, click to download in the photo gallery.