Dear editor,
I fully support having chickens in the City of Iola. I would actually like it to be “poultry,” as ducks would be great also.
I think anyone should be allowed to have 1-3 hens.
How about having a resident apply for a permit (much like dog owners must have a city license for each pet) and along with the permit, the resident acknowledges that other people are not responsible for lost dogs, feral cats, wildlife (foxes, raccoons, etc.) and natural occurrences?
A certain amount of square feet per chicken could be required, fences or housing could be required. There could be a small fee also.
Owning poultry can teach valuable lessons about life, responsibility and the food chain. Animals teach us how to care for them, understand their needs and appreciate the connection between nature and food production.
If other cities have been able to figure this out — I sure think Iola can!
Kansas is a chicken-friendly state with a wide range of laws regarding how many chickens you can keep. Some cities allow roosters, and most of the cities on our list require permits to have chickens.
Residents of Blue Springs can have up to six hens and/or ducks, with specific coop and distance requirements, and a permit.
Edgerton allows backyard chickens with a permit, with up to six hens allowed on properties under one acre.
Kansas City — up to 6 hens; no roosters; permit required.
Lawrence — up to 20 hens depending on lot size; no roosters.
Lenexa — 5 hens per acre, with 1 acre lot being the minimum size; no roosters.
Manhattan — no official limit.
Olathe — up to 4 hens; no roosters; permit required.
Overland Park — limits based on lot size; no roosters on properties smaller than 3 acres; permit required.
Prairie Village — Up to six hens (no roosters) and must keep them in a coop or chicken tractor.
Salina — Up to 15 chickens allowed on residential properties, with specific coop and yard regulations, including a 50-foot setback from neighboring dwellings; permit required.
