OWENSBORO, Ky. — The Owensboro City Commission voted Tuesday to approve a new ordinance that allows people living in city limits to keep chickens on their property.

The ordinance allows residents to keep up to six female chickens for personal use but blocks the keeping of roosters or other fowl in the backyard of single-family homes.

It also directs residents to keep the animals in secure, sanitary, covered and predator-proof coops with ventilation. Coops must be at least 10 feet from property lines, 40 feet from neighboring homes and businesses and require a $25 permit from the Department of Public Works.

This was Owensboro's third attempt in the past decade to legalize backyard chickens. Previous efforts fizzled because of a lack of support from city officials.

While the birds are

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