Ordinance Could Open More Middletown Properties To Backyard Chickens

The Middletown Township Board of Supervisors are moving forward with a proposal to legalize backyard chickens on residential properties.

The latest action comes after years of restrictive regulations that effectively barred most residents in the 19-square-mile township from owning poultry.

As part of the present township ordinance, residents must own at least 10 acres to keep chickens, a threshold that Director of Zoning and Planning Jim Ennis stated makes ownership “pretty much not allowed” for the vast majority of the municipality.

The proposed ordinance shift gained momentum after a multi-platform outreach campaign by the township last week.

Township posts about the proposal garnered 23,476 views across TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. An accompanying poll saw 78 percent of the 344 respondents favor the change, while only 12 percent were opposed, officials said.

“This has definitely been a matter that has had a lot of outreach and a lot of engagement,” Ennis said.

Township officials are considering two paths for expanding ordinances.

One proposal is to restrict chickens to properties of at least a half-acre within specific RA1, RA2, and RA3 zoning districts.

The second proposal is to allow a minimum of three hens on lots as small as 7,000 square feet, with more birds permitted for every additional 5,000 square feet of land.

Under both versions, roosters would remain prohibited, and owners would be required to obtain a low-cost, “minimally burdensome” permit ensuring sanitary conditions, officials said.

At Monday’s supervisors meeting, supporters shared personal stories of the benefits of suburban chicken raising.

Dr. James Robinson told the supervisors he had chickens for nine years before being forced by the township to remove them during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Having chickens is one of the best things I’ve ever done,” Robinson said, noting he raised his three daughters with the animals.

Robinson criticized the timing of past enforcement, which he said occurred while egg supplies were scarce in stores.

“Your government came to my house and pulled my wife out, made me get rid of my chickens when there was no eggs during a global pandemic,” he said.

Jacqueline Williams, of Levittown, pointed to the sustainability benefits of chickens, adding that the birds provide natural pest control by consuming hundreds of ticks daily.

“They also provide valuable educational experiences for children, teaching responsibility, animal care, biology, and where food truly comes from,” Williams said.

Speakers said well-maintained coops are often cleaner than poorly managed trash or pet waste.

Ennis said most enforcement cases by the township stem from neighbors reporting the existence of chickens rather than nuisance complaints.

The proposal is scheduled for a Planning Commission review in June.

Because it involves a change to zoning ordinances, the plan must also be reviewed by the Bucks County Planning Commission.

Ennis said a final vote by the Board of Supervisors is targeted for August.

If the measure passes, Middletown Township will join several other Bucks County municipalities that already permit backyard chickens under similar guidelines.