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Backyard chickens may be here to stay in Grand Rapids

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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Chickens may be coming home to roost in Grand Rapids permanently soon.

The Grand Rapids City Commission will hold a hearing on July 26 to make an ordinance that allowed residents to raise chickens in their backyards permanent.

The current ordinance expires May 1, 2017. The ordinance was enacted in May 2015 for a two-year trial.

The city says that 38 people were issued first-year permits and 14 were renewed.  Eight were denied.

The ordinance requires a resident to get a permit to keep chickens in their backyard.  Permits are not issued if a neighbor objects within 21 days when someone has applied for a permit.  Permits are $50 for the first year and then $10 for annual renewals.