Chickens have become a more common sight in the City of Perry, and to make things easier for themselves and those wanting them, the City Council is a step closer to streamlining the process of getting permission for “urban chickens.”

The City has been working on ordinances that would take out several steps from the process of having chickens within city limits. Animals typically considered livestock, like chickens and pigs, are prohibited from being kept within the City, unless people get the approval of the City Council. The new ordinance will take the Council out of the equation for people seeking chickens, and reduce it to an application and permission from the city administrator, police chief, and building inspector.

At the most recent Perry City Council meeting, they passed the first reading of an urban chicken ordinance, as well as an amendment to the animal control and protection ordinance. The Council needs to hold two more readings of the ordinances before they can make them official, and they are expected to have the next readings at their meeting Monday evening.

One thing the Council emphasizes is the urban chicken ordinance will allow for hen chickens only within city limits. Roosters are prohibited from being kept in the City, with no exceptions.