POLICY DATABASE
Policy Summary

Regulates the keeping of chickens in residential areas through a permitting process.

Background Information

State Virginia
Jurisdiction Name Salem
Jurisdiction Type City,
Population Size 5,000-50,000
Legal Strategies
  • Requires something, sets standards
  • Expressly allows something
Reach Community-wide
Food System Category Grow;
Evidence for Health

This policy may correspond to diet-related strategies identified by the County Health Rankings’ What Works for Health tool, including:

For research on the potential effectiveness, please review the category links above.

We understand that this information is not comprehensive. It also does not include other important forms of evidence such as community members’ lived experiences and practice-based evidence.

Policy Details

Refers to priority populations?
No

Health-related goal?
Yes

"affordable nutritious food source" Sec. 106-318.1

Environmental goal?
Yes

"local sustainable food system" Sec. 106-318.1; "Composting of chicken litter and waste on site" Sec. 106-318.1(B)(15)

Economic goal?
No

Includes findings?
No

Has a stated intent or purpose?
Yes

"The keeping of chickens supports a local, sustainable food system by providing an affordable, nutritious food source of fresh eggs. These regulations are to provide appropriate standards for the keeping of chickens within an urban residential environment, while protecting the residential integrity of the surrounding neighborhood and the health and safety of the chickens." Sec. 106-318.1

Includes definitions?
Yes

Sec. 106-600.

Addresses implementation?
Yes

The animal control officer will inspect the site prior to renewal of application Sec. 106-318.1(C )(1); the city zoning department provides the application 106-318.1(C )(1).

Enforcement provisions?
Yes

"Any violations found may subject the owner to revocation of their permit and to criminal charges as provided herein." Sec. 106-318.1(C )(1), (4).

Evaluation component?
No

Requires extra investment?
No

Code context and ordinance history

Chapter 106-Zoning, art. III-Use and design standards, § 106-318 -urban agriculture. History: Ord. of 6-25-2012(2)

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