Urban Chickens
Current City Code
Chickens (and other fowl) are defined in Title 6 of the City’s code as livestock. Code states that it is unlawful for a person to keep, harbor, or maintain livestock within the corporate limits at any time, except within the R-1 zoning district, as defined in Title 17.
To determine whether your property is zoned R-1 you can call Planning and Community Development at (406) 455-8430 or visit the Interactive Zoning Map.
Enforcement
If a community member is keeping chickens inside the city limits in an area that is not zoned R1:
- Great Falls Police Department’s Animal Control Division may issue citations
- Municipal Court may mandate the removal of the chickens.
To report a community member keeping chickens, or other livestock, within the City Limits, call Great Falls Police Department’s Animal Control at 406-455-8599.
Background on Urban Chickens in Great Falls
In 2010, the City Commission requested City staff write an expanded urban chicken ordinance for consideration. At that time urban chickens and other livestock were only allowed on properties that were zoned R-1. At a public hearing on April 5, 2011 the City Commission did not pass the proposed ordinances that staff wrote (Ordinance 3066, Ordinance 3067, Ordinance 3069). At the public hearing, the Commission heard testimony from over 50 people. The Ordinances were not adopted and no changes were made to City Code related to urban chickens.
Urban chickens came up again in 2017. The City Commission adopted Resolution 10198 which sent the question of whether chickens should be allowed within the City limits . On the November 7, 2017 general election ballot, the issue failed (6,646 against – 6,040 in favor).
In 2021, a citizen attempted to gain support for legalizing backyard hens once again. They drafted a ballot request for a public vote, but they relocated out of Great Falls and didn't see it through.
Why the Regulations are in Place
The community at large is essentially split on this issue. Here are some reasons why some communities restrict chickens and other livestock:
- Questions about public health issues including odor, waste, etc.
- Noise concerns related to roosters
- Over the course of decades of development, many residential subdivisions already restrict the keeping of chickens through their recorded subdivision covenants
