MANSFIELD — Is it finally time for the chickens to come home to roost in Mansfield backyards?
City Council on Tuesday is scheduled begin discussions during caucus on legislation that would allow backyard chicken coops in the city, a version of which was rejected in 2017 by an entirely different group of lawmakers after several meetings with residents.
The bill is scheduled for a first reading on Dec. 2 and a final vote on Dec. 16, a change being sought by a citizens’ group called the Friends for Mansfield Backyard Chickens. The group has circulated a petition in favor of the proposal during 2025.
In a letter to Richland Source earlier this year, Jason Ogg, founder and managing director of Mansfield Permaculture, said residents sought “one measured step toward addressing food insecurity in our community.”
“Backyard hens can provide families with fresh eggs, reduce food waste, manage garden pests, and improve soil health,” he wrote.
“For residents who meet the proposed ordinance’s requirements — adequate space, proper housing, and a commitment to responsible care — hens can help supplement grocery costs and often produce enough surplus to share with neighbors or those in need,” Ogg wrote.
“This is not a free-for-all. It’s a thoughtful, small-scale solution grounded in education, accountability, and community resilience,” he wrote.
There is no state law against it
There is no state law prohibiting such activities. Several cities, including Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo and Dayton, have passed ordinances allowing backyard chickens while also regulating how they are allowed to operate.
According to the Ohio Resource Center website,
Columbus: The city has laws about how far chicken coops need to be from your house and your neighbor’s property. It’s important to keep the coop clean so it doesn’t smell bad or attract bugs and other pests. There’s also a limit to how many chickens you can have, and you can’t have roosters because they’re too noisy. Before you build a coop, you have to get the right permits, and your coop has to be safe and sanitary.
Cleveland: You can only have a certain number of chickens, depending on how big your yard is, and you can’t have roosters because they’re too noisy. Your chicken coop needs to be clean and not too close to other houses. Also, you have to get your chickens vaccinated and check their health often to stop diseases from spreading.
Cincinnati: You need to follow the local zoning rules, which tell you how many chickens you can have based on the size of your property. Your chicken coop must be clean, safe from predators, and at least 20 feet away from your neighbor’s house to avoid bothering them. The city doesn’t allow roosters because they’re too noisy. That means you can only keep hens, either for their eggs or as pets. You also have to make sure that chicken waste and smells don’t become a problem.
What does the proposal say in Mansfield?
According to the existing law in Mansfield, chickens are allowed only on properties that are three acres or larger.
Here are the highlights of the new Mansfield ordinance as currently proposed:
— Hen keeping shall be permitted on any lot developed with a one-family or two family dwelling. Hen keeping shall be prohibited on lots containing multi-family dwellings, mixed-use structures, or commercial/industrial uses. No roosters are allowed.
— No hens shall be kept without prior registration with the city’s Permitting and Development Division.
— An initial application shall include the following:
A. Owner and property information;
B. Number of hens (not to exceed six (6) per property);
C. Site plan showing coop and run location meeting the setback requirements of Chapter
1175.02 Accessory Buildings and Uses of the Mansfield Codified Ordinances;
D. Proof of successful completion of the Ohio State University Backyard Poultry Course or
equivalent program approved by the City;
E. Payment of a one-time initial registration fee of $100.
F. Rental properties require expressed written consent by the owner or authorized agent;
G. Any additional reasonable information needed to establish the ability and intent to conform to this code
— Initial registration requires an inspection of the property and the proposed coop/run to ensure compliance prior to approval. Failure to meet the requirements after two
inspections will result in a reinspection fee of $50.
— Registrations shall be renewed annually on or before Jan. 31 of each year at a fee
of $25. Renewals submitted on or after Feb.1 are subject to a late penalty of $25. Renewals may be processed up to 60 days in advance of the renewal year.
The following standards must be maintained:
(1) Number of Hens. No more than six (6) hens shall be kept per property. Again, roosters are prohibited.
(2) Hen keeping shall not create a health or safety hazard for hens, property owners, neighbors or the public.
(3) Hens shall be banded with the issuing permit number. Bands shall be on hens at all times with the number visible.
(4) Coop Requirements.
(A) Coops shall be elevated at least twelve inches (12″) above grade.
(B) Each hen shall be provided a minimum of 2.5 square feet of interior coop space.
(C) All coops shall meet the accessory structure standards of Chapter 1175.02 of the Mansfield Codified Ordinances.
(D) Hens must be confined to a coop or shelter from dusk to dawn each day.
(E) Coops exceeding 200 square feet will require a permit through the Permitting and Development division, and will be required to meet the standards Ohio Building Code for foundations based on size.
(F) Coops must be placed in accordance with ORD 1167 set-back requirements for the zoning district, and requirements in 1175.02, 1175.06, and 1175.07.
Run Requirements.
(A) Each hen shall be provided a minimum of 8 square feet of outdoor run space.
(B) Runs shall be fully enclosed with fencing adequate to prevent escape.
(C) Free-ranging of hens outside of a coop or run is prohibited.
(D) Chicken wire fencing will be exempt from fence permit requirements in ORD 1175.05.
(6) Sanitation and Feed.
(A) Coops and runs shall be maintained in a clean, dry, and odor-free condition, in a manner that does not create a nuisance.
(B) Waste shall be managed to prevent dust, runoff, vermin and odor.
(C) Feed shall be stored in rodent- and predator-proof containers
Violations of this ordinance shall be subject to enforcement by the Permitting and Development Division.
(1) Violation notices shall be:
(a) be issued in writing
(b) include a description of the property and registrant information
(c) include a statement of the violation and description
(d) include required corrective action with a reasonable correction period
(e) include a statement on the right to appeal
(Below is a PDF showing the proposed backyard chicken ordinance Mansfield City Council is scheduled to begin discussing on Tuesday.)
Also on Tuesday, City Council is scheduled to:
— vote on a proposal to renew an annual agreement with the Richland County Board of Commissioners on payment of legal counsel fees for indigent criminal defendants.
— vote on a proposal to trade in a rotary cutter used for land management at Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport for $5,000 and purchase a new one at a cost not to exceed $22,058. Funds will come from the airport’s capital funds.
— begin discussions on the city’s temporary spending plan for 2026, a blueprint for appropriations prepared by Mayor Jodie Perry. A vote on the temporary plan is scheduled Dec. 2. A permanent spending plan for next year, under Ohio law, must be approved by the end of March.
— vote on the proposed rezoning of a parcel on Annadale Avenue to B-2 (general business district) from its current B-1 status (neighborhood business district). The city Planning Commission recommended the rezoning. A public hearing on the rezoning is scheduled Tuesday at 6:45 p.m.
City Council caucus is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. with the legislative session following immediately thereafter.
(Below is a PDF with legislation scheduled for Mansfield City Council on Tuesday evening.)