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Greater Napanee council has decided once again not to allow backyard poultry in urban areas, citing ongoing concerns about avian flu.
At this week’s meeting, Deputy Mayor Brian Calver supported a staff recommendation to keep the current rules in place. The decision means chickens and other poultry will continue to be limited to agricultural zones under the town’s zoning bylaw.
The issue was first raised in March 2023 and revisited several times since, with council repeatedly citing bird flu risks as the main reason for rejecting backyard hens. Staff noted that while cases of avian flu are currently low, the virus has surged annually since 2022 and vaccines remain limited to specialized workers.
Written by Emily Chatwood
