HAMLET — The City Council has decided to wait on making any changes to its current ordinance regarding the keeping of livestock.
Assistant City Manager Mackenzie Webb told the council during the May 12 meeting that there had been some inquiry regarding allowing residents to keep chickens.
The current ordinance, adopted in 2021, probits having any livestock animals including “cattle or animals of the bovine species, horses, mules, donkeys, ponies, pigs, hogs, swine, fowl, chickens, roosters, turkeys, goats, or sheep,” within the city limits.
The prohibition does not apply to any livestock in the city as of the adoption of the ordinance, “provided that the existing livestock animals shall not be replaced nor shall their numbers be increased.”
Webb later clarified that zoning "permits agricultural production (livestock) in R-20 residential, and RA-20 residential agriculture, but only outside of the city limits. "
City Manager John Terziu said he thinks the inquiries revolve around the recent decision by the Rockingham City Council to allow a limited number of backyard chickens.
“There was questions and wanting some discussion and feedback from council…staff completely unbiased on this,” Terziu said.
“I guess the question is what’s the appetite from council to change this or is there no appetite for it?” Terziu asked.
Rockingham’s ordinance, which was modeled after one in Wake County, allows up to six hens but no roosters. Southern Pines allows up to 10.
Many municipalities across the state — including Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Charlotte and Greensboro — allow residents to keep chickens. However, there are others, like Hamlet, that prohibit chickens, including Lumberton, Pinehurst and Roanoke Rapids, according to thehenhousecollection.com.
“Who’s going to enforce it?” Mayor Pro Tem Abbie Covington asked with a giggle.
Councilman Oscar Sellers asked, “What about dogs?” and City Attorney T.C. Morphis explained that there are already ordinances related to dogs and this specific ordinance just deals with livestock.
Terziu said an intern, slated to start during the summer, would be focusing on updating the city’s ordinances.
Councilman Eddie Martin moved to table discussion “until they have time to do what they gonna do…and bring it back.” The motion passed unanimously.
