Lawmakers discuss proposal on ‘backyard’ chickens
Rep. Steven Doan, R-Erlanger, (right) testifies Tuesday about legislation related to keeping chickens on residential property. He is joined by a constituent, Eric Bunzow (left). A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — Allowing residents to keep chickens as pets is becoming an important issue in towns across Kentucky. Rep. Steven Doan, R-Erlanger, told the Interim Joint Committee on Local Government how these “backyard” chickens could enhance local communities.
During a committee meeting Tuesday, Doan said legislation on this issue is important because of challenges he is seeing in Northern Kentucky.
“There is actually some litigation right now,” Doan said. “Some folks had them for a number of years as emotional support chickens, believe it or not. I believe one of the people had autism, and so the city has taken some steps against those folks, and they have filed an ADA lawsuit.”
Doan’s co-presenter, one of his constituents named Eric Bunzow, testified that having backyard chickens is very relaxing.
“I like to go and grab a chicken, and sit it on my lap, and sit in the backyard while the other chickens run around,” he said.
Bunzow explained that the bill was constructed, “to give the cities and municipalities control of what people can and can’t do with their chickens, other than saying they can’t have them.”
Doan previously filed this measure, House Bill 806, in the 2025 legislative session. The short, one-page bill defines a backyard chicken as a “domesticated hen kept on residential property for personal egg production and educational purposes, excluding commercial farming.”
Sen. Steve Rawlings, R-Burlington, said that, at a city meeting he recently attended, critics of this legislation were almost universally taking about how chickens spread disease.
“As I sat there, I thought, ‘people have had chickens from time immemorial,’ and I had read articles about what a great fertilizer chicken waste is,” Rawlings said. He then asked how the advocates would respond to the disease criticism.
“If you don’t have them, you wouldn’t know,” Bunzow said in response. “As far as what they bring, it’s nice eggs. You know what is coming in and what is coming out.”
Another concern was raised by Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, who wanted to know about how this legislation might impact homeowner’s associations and their ability to govern their communities.
“Can you speak to how this would affect HOAs’ authority to put in regulations in their own communities?” she asked.
“HOAs would still be allowed to ban backyard chickens,” Doan answered. “This bill would have no impact on them.”
While HOAs could still regulate against backyard chickens, the bill would prevent local governments from enforcing any ordinance, zoning regulation, or policy that, “prohibits a person from keeping six or fewer backyard chickens on any residential property.”
The Kentucky General Assembly cannot act on legislation until the 2026 legislative session begins on Jan. 6.
The next Interim Joint Committee on Local Government is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Aug. 26. For more information, visit legislature.ky.gov.
