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City of Lompoc changes animal ordinance to allow chickens, other pets

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Those hoping to raise chickens and other bird fowl in their backyards will soon be able to under a new ordinance the Lompoc City Council approved Tuesday night. It allows people in a single-family zone, with a lot of 5,000 square feet or more, to have as many as six pets total. That will now include chickens, ducks, and rabbits.

The City Council voted 4-1 to change the city’s municipal code, redefining household pets after community members pushed for having birds in their yards.

“There have been quite a bit of community members that would like to have chickens, and once the people started talking about it, it did gain some momentum, and that’s why it was brought back to the council,” said Lompoc Planning Manager Brian Halvorson.

Criteria that must be met includes keeping the coops 40 feet away from any door or window of an adjoining property, and 10 feet away from each side of the property line. They also must be in the rear half of the lot. Roosters, peacock, and turkeys are prohibited, and hens must not create an “offensive noise or odor” for neighbors.

The ordinance will officially go into effect in January.