In response to community interest, the Solana Beach City Council began considering June 10 local regulations for chicken and beekeeping, with possible updates to the current laws to be voted on at a future meeting.
According to a council agenda report, support for an expansion on allowing chickens in residential zones dates back to 2011, when a group called Friends of the Hens sent the city a signed petition.
According to a council agenda report, “Residential, or ‘backyard,’ chickens provide many benefits for the community, including supplying residents with fresh, affordable eggs, creating quality fertilizer for gardening and serving as efficient composters of food scraps.”
During the council meeting, city officials reviewed current regulations and areas for potential changes in zoning, coop location, coop construction and maintenance, and flock size for residents who want their own chickens. Current regulations allow a maximum 25 chickens in estate residential and low residential zones if the lots are at least 20,000 square feet.
Bees are not currently allowed in residential zones. The council will consider zoning, number of hives, hive management, and hive location and construction. According to the agenda report, apiaries provide “environmental and agricultural benefits by increasing local pollination while producing honey and beeswax.”
Councilmember David Zito said there have been illegal chickens on his street, and that he’s “supportive of trying to expand and allow chicken coops in the neighborhoods.”
“I’m very supportive of trying to figure out how to do the chickens,” Zito said. “People really want to do this, it’s also environmentally friendly.”
For bees, he added that city regulations should ensure enough space “that we aren’t putting neighboring properties at risk of their residents getting stung because they happen to be in the flight path,” particularly for people who are allergic to bee stings.
Solana Beach Deputy Mayor Jill MacDonald said there are lot sizes in her district that appear large but are compromised by “major dropoffs” along the topography.
“The level lot size is petit, so I’m not a fan of the idea of letting everyone have chicken coops on those lots or apiaries without much further study about how this would be done and how the neighbors would approve of it and not just discover that there are 15 chickens living within sight of their bedroom windows,” MacDonald said.
Council members also discussed potential regulations for residents getting approval from their neighbors.
