CF Council Closer to Allowing Backyard Chickens

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — The City Council has taken a step toward allowing backyard chickens in Cedar Falls.

The council voted 4-3 Tuesday to revisit a 10-year-old ban on the domestic birds. The council ordered staffers to prepare an ordinance for a future council vote.

A staff review showed many Iowa cities, including Waterloo, Cedar Rapids and Des Moines, allow a limited number of chickens. Cities that don't include Ankeny, Coralville and Davenport.

David Sturch of the city planning staff wrote in a memo to the mayor and council members that city staffers recognize that urban chickens "are a growing trend for people to have them as pets and for egg production."