Chickens are seen inside of a chicken house at Diamond M Ranch on Thursday, April 1, 2021, off Kalifornsky Beach Road near Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Chickens are seen inside of a chicken house at Diamond M Ranch on Thursday, April 1, 2021, off Kalifornsky Beach Road near Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai ordinance would allow chickens in some city zones

The legislation comes as Alaska, like other states, is experiencing an egg shortage

Kenai City Council members will consider next month whether or not to allow residents to keep chickens on some city lots.

Legislation introduced by Kenai City Council member Alex Douthit would allow Kenai residents to keep up to 12 chicken hens on certain lots smaller than 40,000 square feet in most city zones. The City of Kenai would continue to prohibit livestock in the city’s Urban Residential, Suburban Residential 1, Suburban Residential 2 and Townsite Historic zones.

The legislation as proposed would require that hens be kept in an enclosed shelter or be fully fenced in at all times. Enclosed shelters would not be allowed in a front yard when located in a residential zoning district. Other setbacks are described. Any hen shelters or structures would need to be made of “durable weather resistant materials” and be kept in good repair.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Under the proposed legislation, chickens could only be slaughtered on the property if in an area not visible to the public or to adjoining properties. Hens would not be allowed to be kept in a way that creates a public nuisance as described by city code, however, keeping hens in and of itself does would not be considered a nuisance or disturbance.

The legislation comes as Alaska, like other states, is experiencing an egg shortage. Douthit wrote in a Dec. 29 memo to city council members that the legislation came about after residents “expressed an interest” in being able to keep hens on lots of less than 40,000 square feet.

Allowing chickens on more lots within the City of Kenai, he wrote, could promote food security.

“Residents have expressed an interest in keeping chicken hens on lots less than 40,000 square feet to provide a supply of fresh eggs,” Douthit wrote in his Dec. 29 memo. “The raising of chicken hens for their eggs helps to promote food security in our community.

As reported by the Anchorage Daily News, one of Alaska’s top egg suppliers, Oakdell, recently experienced a bird flu outbreak affecting more than 1 million chickens. That outbreak is contributing to egg shortages and price hikes in Alaska. As reported by KDLL, local egg suppliers are also seeing demand go up.

According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the average price of one dozen Grade A large eggs in the U.S. jumped to $4.25 in December 2022. That’s compared to $1.79 in December 2021 and $1.48 in December 2020.

Council members voted during their Jan. 4 meeting to refer the legislation to the Kenai Planning & Zoning Commission’s Jan. 25 meeting. The ordinance will be brought back before the city council for a public hearing on Feb. 1.

Kenai City Council meeting documents can be accessed on the city’s website at kenai.city.

Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.

A map shows areas in the City of Kenai, that would allow chicken hens on lots less than 40,000 square feet under an ordinance proposed by the Kenai City Council. (map via City of Kenai)

A map shows areas in the City of Kenai, that would allow chicken hens on lots less than 40,000 square feet under an ordinance proposed by the Kenai City Council. (map via City of Kenai)

More in News

Member Tom Tougas, far right, speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Tourism Industry Working Group in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Tourism working group rejects bed tax, recommends seasonal sales tax adjustment

The document includes a section that says the borough could alternatively leave its tax structure exactly as it is.

The rescued sea otter pup looks at the camera in this undated picture, provided by the Alaska SeaLife Center. (Kaiti Grant/Alaska SeaLife Center)
Stranded otter pup rescued from Homer beach

She is estimated to be around 2 months old and was found alone by concerned beach walkers.

Kenai Peninsula College Director Cheryl Siemers speaks to graduates during the 55th commencement ceremony at Kachemak Bay Campus on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Kenai Peninsula College leadership sees temporary transitions

KPC Director Cheryl Siemers is serving as interim UAA chancellor, while former KBC director Reid Brewer fills in her role.

Ash-Lee Waddell (center) of Homer is one of six recipients of the 2025 First Lady’s Volunteer Award at the Governor’s Residence in Juneau, Alaska, on May 13, 2025. Photo courtesy of the Office of the Governor
First lady honors Alaska volunteers

Volunteers from Homer and Nikiski were recognized.

The front of the Kenai Police Department as seen on Dec. 10, 2019. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Update: Middle schooler reported missing found after 24-hour search

The student was seen leaving Kenai Middle School at around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

The Oceania Riviera stands out against a bluebird sky at the Homer Harbor on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Over 1200 passengers from aboard the boat explored Homer throughout the beautiful day. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
Homer tourism season kicks off with arrival of cruise ships

The first cruise ship of the season arrived April 28 with 930 passengers.

tease
‘Tomorrow — remember you are still a learner’

Kachemak Bay Campus graduated 49 students during its 55th annual commencement hosted on May 7.

Mt. Redoubt rises above Cook Inlet and the Anchor River drainage as fireweed is in bloom, as seen from Diamond Ridge Road on Friday, July 22, 2022, near Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Michael Armstrong/Homer News)
Native plants provide lifeline for local songbirds

Shorebird Festival talk highlights importance of native plants.

Sterling Elementary School students collect trash from the banks of the Kenai River near Bing’s Landing in Sterling, Alaska, during the 10th Annual Kenai River Spring Cleanup on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Cleaning up the mess that’s left behind

Students from six local schools combed for litter during the 10th Annual Kenai River Spring Cleanup.

Most Read