City Council voted last night to approve changes to Harrisonburg's backyard chicken ordinance. 

From today's Daily News Record article....

City officials began reviewing the regulations on backyard hens after council members were approached about the matter last fall. Tuesday's vote eliminated a minimum 2-acre lot-size requirement enacted in 2009.

The requirement effectively maintained a ban on backyard fowl, as most lots in the city are smaller than 2 acres.

The new rules, which must be approved again before they take effect, will allow residents of single-family homes to keep chickens. No one living in an apartment, townhouse or manufactured home park will be allowed to keep birds.

Chicken owners are limited to four hens in an enclosed pen, which must sit in the backyard and be at least five feet from property lines and at least 20 feet from any stormwater management installation.