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Legislation permitting backyard hens in Chattanooga advances

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Chickens Lilija and Reid stroll in the yard of Heather Hammond on July 3, 2025, in Red Bank. The city of Chattanooga moved a step closer Tuesday to allowing more of its residents to keep backyard chickens.
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Chickens Lilija and Reid stroll in the yard of Heather Hammond on July 3, 2025, in Red Bank. The city of Chattanooga moved a step closer Tuesday to allowing more of its residents to keep backyard chickens. Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Chickens Lilija and Reid stroll in the yard of Heather Hammond on July 3, 2025, in Red Bank. The city of Chattanooga moved a step closer Tuesday to allowing more of its residents to keep backyard chickens.

By Mariah Franklin 7 min read

A 20-year ban on chicken ownership in Chattanooga could fall this summer.

A proposal to let Chattanooga residents keep chickens is halfway through the legislative process after the City Council approved it Tuesday, in the first of two votes needed to change local law. Though the measure has gotten support from most council members and some residents, two council members and other city-dwellers say the change could bring down quality of life.

And the leader of the organization that could be tasked with enforcing complaints about urban chickens said that it does not have the resources to address a high volume of complaints stemming from the new law.

Chattanoogans in most circumstances have been barred from keeping chickens since 2005. But if the City Council adopts the new law during a vote next week, city residents would be able to keep up to eight hens. Roosters would still be prohibited under the new rules.

Legislation permitting backyard hens in Chattanooga advances

Staff photo by Abby White / Meishan pigs and chickens eat organic feed June 12, 2025, at a farm in Soddy-Daisy.
Staff photo by Abby White / Meishan pigs and chickens eat organic feed June 12, 2025, at a farm in Soddy-Daisy.
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Chattanooga City Council member Marvene Noel listens to a speaker in 2022 during a council meeting. Noel and council member Jenni Berz both oppose permitting backyard hens in the city.
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Chattanooga City Council member Marvene Noel listens to a speaker in 2022 during a council meeting. Noel and council member Jenni Berz both oppose permitting backyard hens in the city.
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Chip Henderson speaks April 15, 2025, during a meeting of the Chattanooga City Council at City Hall. Henderson put forward a piece of legislation that would permit Chattanooga residents to keep chickens.
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Chip Henderson speaks April 15, 2025, during a meeting of the Chattanooga City Council at City Hall. Henderson put forward a piece of legislation that would permit Chattanooga residents to keep chickens.
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Vanessa and Jonathan Trent hold two of their chickens at their home Nov. 8, 2024, in Graysville, Tenn.
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Vanessa and Jonathan Trent hold two of their chickens at their home Nov. 8, 2024, in Graysville, Tenn.

During its most recent meeting, the council voted 7-2 to pass the law. Council members Marvene Noel of Orchard Knob and Jenni Berz of Brainerd Hills both voted against it. With one more vote to approve it from the council — set for July 29 — it will take effect.