OAK HARBOR – The Oak Harbor Village Council is considering two ordinances that support responsible animal ownership while preserving quality of life for all residents, Mayor Quinton Babcock announced April 24.
“When I talk to community members, the most common sentiment I hear is that they think everyone should have the option to keep animals like chickens, but to do so responsibly,” Babcock said. “Oak Harbor is an agricultural community and providing a clear framework encourages good practices and supports residents who want to responsibly raise animals.”
The first ordinance is an update to existing legislation that prohibits animals from interfering with the use of neighboring or public property. The original ordinance prohibited animals that created excessive smells or other issues when they were used for business-related purposes.
Some towns already prohibit chickens
“In some communities, outdoor animals like chickens are simply banned,” Babcock said. “But for more than 15 years, Oak Harbor has allowed them as long as they aren’t causing problems. We recently reviewed that ordinance and realized that it needed to be updated to reflect what residents expect today.”…