This petition is to request residents to be allowed to have small-scale, non-commercial, non-agricultural pet backyard chickens and other fowl in the borough of Quarryville. It’s an increasingly popular activity for those interested in access to fresh eggs, composted manure for gardens, teaching children about where food comes from and even helping control pest and tick populations.

Your help is greatly needed, and PLEASE SIGN !

Your signatures will allow us to present to the Quarryville Zoning Hearing Board on September 28, 2020 to request an adjustment of the codes to allow "Pet Backyard Chickens" for those residences with small lots, who wish to have chickens as pets in Quarryville.

We want to change the Zoning Laws and here is a proposal:

• Residents must apply for a permit, requesting Special Exception approval as an accessory use, in Residential Zoned areas. Fee for Permit will be $50.
• Chickens and their eggs will be for personal, non-commercial use.
• Slaughtering of chickens is not allowed.
• Coop and chicken run size:
• 2 sq ft per chicken for coops
• 8 sq ft per chicken for run size
• Lot sizes less than 1 acre:
  • Coop and Chicken Run should be placed in the rear of the lot, at least 25 feet from the nearest dwelling, 10 ft from any lot line and 75 ft to the nearest resident.
  • Coop and Chicken Run will be enclosed or fenced and provide roof cover (solid or bird netting) to prevent them from escaping and protection from predator's.
  • Maximum number of chickens will be limited to 10 chickens.
  • No roosters are allowed.
• Lot sizes more than 1 acre:
  • Coop and Chicken Run should be placed in the rear of the lot, at least 25 feet from the nearest dwelling, 10 ft from any lot line and 75 ft to the nearest resident.
  • Coop and Chicken Run will be enclosed or fenced and provide roof cover (solid or bird netting) to prevent them from escaping and protection from predators.
  • Maximum number of chickens will be limited to 20 chickens.
  • No roosters are allowed.
  • Manure controls, such as routine removal is required every two weeks. Residents are encouraged to compost manure.
• Keeping of backyard pet chickens is not a commercial agricultural activity and is not a Concentrated Animal Operation, Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation, or normal farm activity as regulated under the Pennsylvania Act 38 “The Agriculture, Communities and Rural Environment Act of 2005” or ACRE (also known as the “Nutrient and Odor Management Act”).