illinois towns that allow backyard chickens

We are currently working in Elmhurst to change our ordinance as well!
https://www.facebook.com/BackyardChickensForElmhurstIl

I don't know if it's already been posted, but Alton, IL just made it legal. I do not know all the details.

Just found out Madison county IL does not unless you have 10 acres, you can get a permit but that cost $300.
We have 5 acres in country and are still illegal

Our small town of Kirkland in northern IL passed an ordinance in June allowing up to 10 hens, no roosters. We've had our 6 hens since end of September and we love having chickens! Getting 5 fresh, healthy eggs most days, sometimes 6, sometimes less, but they are doing great.

I believe that Milton Township has no particular objection to backyard chickens as long as you have the appropriate amount of space for them to roam. I know that unincorporated Glen Ellyn (near wheaton) allows chickens.

MnKHarden said:

I'm in unincorporated West Chicago and very confused about if it's ok or not. I'm in Wayne Township and it's ok to have them in Wayne Township. When I called the county and asked if I could raise chickens as pets the answer was "NO" They didn't even ask where I lived! I tried to explain that I'm in unincorporated West Chicago, part of Wayne Township, He replied you need 5 acres for chickens and be zoned as agricultural.....HMMM, my neighbors in the town of Wayne (Wayne Township) can have them in their backyard. My other friend is zoned residential with 2 acres and has a horse.

So I gave up on the chickens for almost 2 years and this spring I got some chicks and we will see what happens

My coop is close to our house, with a cute fence around it and garden, so hopefully the neighbors don't call and complain. We also have a 6' semi-private fence around our property

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Hi. I was searching for rooster regulations and came across your posts. It may not be relevent anymore... We moved to unincorporated West Chicago about 3 years ago. I called the County twice and got different answers each time. The first time they told me that you had to have 30,000 square feet and be 4H members. The second time, they told me 35,000 square feet and 4H members, but he had to do some searching to find it. I don't think anybody is super clear about what the regulations are. I spoke with a couple of 4Hers who told me that it really just depends on your neighbors. One lady told me that they had a pig when they lived in Naperville, but since their neighbors were cool with it, there were no problems. We have several neighbors with chickens AND roosters and they certainly don't have 5 acres... If you ever found any concrete information, I'd be glad to hear about it.

benthere-donethat said:

If you ever found any concrete information, I'd be glad to hear about it.

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I don't see anything relevant in the DuPage County zoning ordinances at http://www.dupageco.org/Zoning/
I did a search for "poultry", "chickens" "roosters", and "fowl". It only says that roadstands selling poultry products are allowed, and all I found are these two:

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West Chicago municipal code is at http://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=10315
I found this:

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The bolding and underline are mine. If you're unincorporated, I don't see how they could say you are "within the city".
If they claim there is a law or ordinance, insist they actually show it to you and cite the article number.

After months of research and preparation we went before the village board last month with our amended livestock ordinance. We asked for 5 hens to be allowed as pets, no roosters, we set guidelines for boundaries, etc. I pulled together an informational packet which included research, letters from our schools agricultural teacher, 4H, and other educational leaders. Spoke with surrounding towns that allow backyard girls, (they all stated not one problem reported)
Last night our proposal was voted on and defeated 3-2 (one board member didn't even show up)
I would love some advice on where to go from here, I don't want to give up, just not sure how to change the minds of men who are not taking this seriously. The reason's they give for saying no are sooooo ridicules it seems as though they have better things to do..... We live in a small farming community of 750. For goodness sakes our school is called Farmington Farmers!!! These board members are not listening to the citizens of the community.

Can I propose again? Should I talk with the board members who voted yes and ask how to change others minds? What would you do?

Wonderone said:

Can I propose again? Should I talk with the board members who voted yes and ask how to change others minds? What would you do?

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It won't hurt to talk to them individually.

If anyone has the dedication, it shouldn't be too hard in the next election to replace one or two. In a community of 750, I'd guess 100 votes would be enough to get someone elected. (assuming the 750 includes children, plus lots of people who don't bother voting).

Talked with one of the board members who voted no. He stated he voted no due to the fact that there are coyotes living outside of town and "What if a coyote came to town because of the chickens and attacked a child with a candy bar"

Speachless.....