Redlands moves forward with plans to expand where residents can keep hens

REDLANDS, Calif. — Residents across Redlands may soon be allowed to keep backyard hens after the City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to direct staff to draft an ordinance expanding where hens can be kept.

Why it matters: Council members noted that some residents already have hens, even in areas where they are not technically permitted. The proposed ordinance, they said, would help bring the city’s code up to date while allowing officials to register existing hens, which is an important step for tracking potential outbreaks of avian diseases.

Details: Currently, hens are only allowed in two rural zoning districts: Rural Residential Animals and Rural Estate Animals, located primarily in the city’s far southeast area. The city’s existing rules limit the number of hens based on lot size, with two permitted on smaller lots and up to nine on larger properties.

What they’re saying: Development Services Director Brian Desatnik said Redlands’ regulations are more restrictive than those in neighboring communities.

“The city’s regulations on hens are pretty restrictive,” Desatnik said, noting that many areas annexed from the county were historically rural. “We think it could be appropriate really in any single-family district, or any district that allows single-family homes.”

Mayor Pro Tem Marc Shaw requested the item be brought forward, citing growing community interest.

“A lot of people raise hens for the purpose of having eggs,” Shaw said. He also emphasized that this ordinance would not allow roosters.

Moving forward: Under the direction approved Tuesday, staff will draft an ordinance to amend the city’s zoning regulations to permit hens in single-family residential districts.

The proposed ordinance would also set standards for how many hens are allowed per lot based on parcel size and include other compatibility requirements to minimize potential neighborhood impacts.