Since 2014, Kristen Bartley has been campaigning for an ordinance that would allow Chaska residents to keep backyard chickens. With a new mayor and two new members of the City Council, the topic is once again being revived for consideration.

The last time the Chaska City Council considered a backyard chicken ordinance was in 2021, where it failed 3-2.

Since that time, Chanhassen amended its chicken permit ordinance to allow keeping chickens on properties smaller than one acre. In 2024, the city of Carver passed an ordinance allowing chickens with a permit.

In Chanhassen, 20 total permits have been granted since 2019 and none have been revoked, according to Associate Planner Rachel Arsenault. She said very few complaints have been received.

“The positive feedback comes from those excited to have chickens,” she said. “We have heard from chicken owners, they are excited for the opportunity to have their own fresh eggs and teach their kids about the responsibility and care of animals.”

In Carver, the ordinance is still new, so few residents have applied for permits, but the city expects to see more applications once spring arrives and residents can build coops.

“People have been receptive of allowing chickens in Carver,” said Community Development Director Erin Smith. “Members of the Planning Commission, City Council and city staff had all heard from residents that were interested in having chickens prior to the adoption of the ordinance, which put it on our radar to think about. The ordinance was well supported throughout the city process and the permitting process is off to a smooth start.”

Bartley said her journey started as a passion project after seeing a friend in another city with pet chickens.

“I just fell in love with how she interacted with her chickens, and the names for them. Her children had responsibilities like gathering eggs and raking the coop out,” she said. “I thought, ‘Why shouldn’t we be able to do this?’”

Since she began her efforts to get chickens allowed in Chaska, Barley has worked with resident groups in several cities — including Shakoppe, Chanhassen, Eden Prairie, Apple Valley, Woodbury and others — to help them get their own ordinances passed.

Bartley spoke at the March 17 Chaska City Council meeting, where she highlighted benefits of chicken keeping and asked the council to consider bringing up the topic again. The council plans to add the topic to the calendar for a work session in the near future.