Even if the Cheyenne City Council legalizes backyard chickens, many residents won't be able to have them.

Councilman Jim Brown says the majority of the city is covered by neighborhood covenants that prohibit property owners from keeping poultry and farm animals within their subdivision.

"I'd say 92 to 95 percent of our city is covered by covenants," said Brown. "This ordinance doesn't supersede the covenant."

"Anybody who ends up with chickens and their covenants say no, their neighbors would have to file a suit against them to get rid of the chickens," added Brown. "We're taking people who don't want chickens having to spend money with attorneys to get rid of one or two people who might want chickens that shouldn't be there to begin with."

"It's ultimately the responsibility of the landowners involved to do that due diligence on their end and determine whether there are restrictions on chickens," said Councilman Dicky Shanor.

The ordinance will be on third and final reading when the City Council meets Monday night at 6:00 p.m.

"We're opening up a barnyard gate that we won't be able to close if we pass this ordinance," said Brown.

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