Chickens Approved in Fort Collins

Urban chickens have been approved in Fort Collins, Colorado. Some, including one vocal city council member, are not happy about it.

1 minute read

September 8, 2008, 5:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg


"On Tuesday evening, the Fort Collins City Council voted 5-1 to allow residents to keep as many as six hens within city limits-purely for egg-laying and composting purposes, no slaughtering or roosters allowed."

"While the ordinance has chicken movement leader Dan Brown and cohorts jumping for joy-his latest celebratory chicken blog is titled "Cluck Yes!!!!!!"-councilman Wade Troxell still has a rotten taste in his mouth over the matter."

"'I think barnyard animals don't have a place in our neighborhoods,' he said, speaking with Fort Collins Now while on a trip in Copenhagen, Denmark that left Diggs Brown as the only vote in opposition to the second reading of the chicken measure."

"'I've had constituents in District 4 that currently have chickens next to them and they've called and complained about the smell, about the noise and about the flies,' Troxell said. 'I think you can paint a utopian view but at the end of the day it'll create a lot of issues between citizens and their neighbors.'"

Friday, September 5, 2008 in Fort Collins Now

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

September 16, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

Passengers board an Amtrak train under a cloudy sky.

Amtrak, CN end decades-long dispute with eight-year agreement

The new operating agreement establishes an updated framework for the companies to work together, including processes to resolve disputes.

September 18, 2026 - Mass Transit

The Gross Reservoir, a large body of water surrounded by trees and mountains.

Judges permit Denver to divert 77,000 acre feet from the Colorado River for reservoir expansion

Overuse and climate change have caused the Colorado River’s water levels to plummet.

September 18, 2026 - Inside Climate News

A painted bus lane in NYC.

NYC DOT wants faster, more permanent street upgrades

The city is examining ways to build more concrete infrastructure without getting entangled in 'decades-long' projects.

September 21 - NYC Streetsblog

A woman looks at a utility bill.

'Something we’ve never seen before:' rising utility rates could strain city finances nationwide

Data centers, climate change and other factors have caused utility rates in the United States to increase by 38% since 2020.

September 21 - Smart Cities Dive

A person scuba diving in a coral reef off Guam.

Trump to overrule local leaders, lease millions of acres of America’s Pacific Island territories’ seafloors to mining companies

International law says that the Indigenous people of America’s territories have a right to prior and informed consent regarding projects that impact their countries.

September 21 - Grist