The Village of Mahomet Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend that the Board of Trustees approved a measure that will allow chicken (hens only) to be raised within residences zoned R‐1A, R‐1B, R‐1C, and R‐2.
Should the amendment be approved by the board, not everyone who lives on a single‐family or two‐family zoned lot within the Village limits will be permitted to raise chickens as an accessory use.
Many homeowner associations have covenants that prohibit homeowners from raising poultry within a subdivision. Covenant amendments would have to be approved by the HOA and the Village prior to those homeowners being able to have chickens.
The Village has been approached by individuals who want to produce their own food over the years.
The Village used ordinances in the City of Champaign and Mansfield to craft their own. Areas of unincorporated Champaign County can raise chickens.
Homeowners who were raising chickens prior to being annexed into the Village would not necessarily have to give up their animals should the Village board choose to not approve the ordinance. But the commission learned that should the measure be voted down, the Village would have to address the issue.
The measure will now go before Village trustees.
