Penticton

Photo: Contributed

The pilot project hatched by Penticton City Council to allow chickens in backyards is moving ahead.

Many municipalities in BC and Canada have allowed backyard hens, and city staff  has reviewed regulations from other jurisdictions to develop an 18 month project that will suit the needs of Penticton.

Those interested in the project must fill out an application for a temporary use permit to keep the hens during the project.

Legislation for such permits requires  addresses to be published as part of the approval project.

The deadline to apply is 4 p.m. Monday, April 15.

The deadline was originally April 5, but that was changed to allow people to first attend an informational workshop on raising chickens in the city on April 6.

“I think it is a very novel idea, and I had several friends who encouraged me to give it a try,” said Councillor Judy Sentes. “We need to be cognizant, because the last thing we need is coyotes coming in.
It is also a pilot, so it remains to be seen.”

It was Chris Remington, executive chef with the Penticton Lakeside Resort, who first proposed the idea of keeping chickens to the Agricultural Advisory Committee last summer.

His feeling was other large communities were doing it, so Penticton should be part of the movement as well.

The idea was pitched to and rejected by the Kelowna City Council.