Kansas City Missouri, KCMO Law & Ordinance - Chickens or Bust!!

1)
I've finally made the decision to call the city and talk with animal control to find out what I need to do for a 'Permit' to own chickens inside city limits.

I'll post threads as I get more information.
KCMO

2)
I spoke to Animal Control, was directed to the city website. They have the permit available for download on their website located: neighborhoods --> animals -->licenses

Special Exception Permit for Chickens This residential permit allows those who do not meet the 100-foot distance requirement from their neighbors to keep or maintain up to 15 chickens at a residence after first getting permission from the owners and occupants of any buildings within the minimum distance requirement. The Animal Health and Public Safety Office will provide the application, or you may download information about it. There is no fee for this permit, but it is subject to renewal after one year and every five years thereafter.

Go to their website and follow the path to download it: neighborhoods --> animals -->licenses
kcmo.gov/neighborhoods/animals/licenses/

So I spoke to a city inspector, and he directed me to their site online, and the form i needed to download and get neighbors to agree that its ok for me to get some hens. no roosters, hence, my username.

Animal licenses -- Special Exception Permit for Chickens — This residential permit allows those who do not meet the 100-foot distance requirement from their neighbors to keep or maintain up to 15 chickens at a residence after first getting permission from the owners and occupants of any buildings within the minimum distance requirement. The Animal Health and Public Safety Office at 2534 Prospect Ave. will provide the application, or you may download information about it. There is no fee for this permit, but it is subject to renewal after one year and every five years thereafter.

I'll keep updating the same post so I don't start a bunch of threads. sorry moderator.

Is it possible to build the coop in an unused attached garage instead? I have 1 troublesome neighbor in KCMO. Thanks.

I would call animal control and find out, in scanning through the regs yesterday I didn't see that subject addressed. This original post is 3 years old and wasn't updated since. I'm moving my planned location about 10 feet so will make sure to exceed Independence's 50 foot law to make sure no issues when my neighbor's home is eventually sold.

urbanfarmerwoman said:

Is it possible to build the coop in an unused attached garage instead? I have 1 troublesome neighbor in KCMO. Thanks.

Click to expand...

Curious, did you contact them yet. So thankful I don't have any neighbor problems on this change in my furry/feathery family.

Interested in this issue too... Does only the coop have to be 100'+ away from neighbor's house, or their entire run? We live in KCMO North of the River and have 1/6 acre backyard... the coop is pretty easy to locate over 100', but the run(s) might be another story. Also, along our back fence are some really obnoxious dogs from the guy who moved in last year. Might they stress my hens if they run and bark at them? If so, might need to build a wood fence in addition to the chain link fence existing...

No idea, I looked it up under Kansas City chicken codes for urbanfarmerwoman and she has not commented again. The code is pretty detailed. Apparently you can call animal control for details and to also get exemptions. I'm in Independence and ours are 50 feet from any nearby dwelling and the owner of the coop is exempt, thankfully because 50 feet straight back would put the coop and run in the park behind my house! I don't have any idea if NKC has different codes. I will have it about 75 feet from neighbors on both sides so even if the homes are sold I should be OK. My current neighbors don't care.

Just talked to the neighbor that had me concerned and she seems to be fine with it. The coop is what needs to be over 100' from her house and that's no problem. My other neighbor isn't home, but he's really a good guy so I can't imagine he'd care either. Besides, a few eggs at times would probably help smooth over any minor issues.

What about composting though? The code says that if they are allowed to roam at all, you have to lime it every 3 months between I think April and December. Wouldn't that be bad for a garden...?

Lime is no issue for the garden it's the chickens it may not be good for. The laws say it's for odor and fly control. I started looking at that when I read that and remembering we used to use it when our dirt floor old barn was stinky and the flies were crazy--back when I lived in the country. It is an extension service link:

http://articles.extension.org/pages/66918/use-of-lime-in-poultry-houses.

I'm betting if there is no pest issue or odor problem if it's checked by codes it wouldn't be an issue. Since I live in a neighborhood with just normal yards I was thinking it may be a good idea but will hunt other methods if the flies get bad.

Good that your neighbor is OK with chickens.