Longmont chicken permits sold out - waiting list started

On Monday, March 23, the city of Longmont issued the last of the 50 permits that allow residents to keep up to four backyard hens. At this time, no more permits are available.

They have, however, started a waiting list of sorts. If anyone who received a permits decides they'd rather not get chickens after all (or if they get them and then decide to get rid of them), they can turn their permit back into the city and the city can reissue it to a person on the waiting list. As of today, March 27, there are four people on the waiting list. So if you do find yourself with a permit and no desire to get or keep chickens after all, please turn your permit back in so that a resident who really wants them can obtain them legally. To be put on the wait list for a chicken permit, please contact Ben Ortiz at the Planning and Development Services Division, 385 Kimbark St. The phone number is 303-774-4725.

Thank you. :)

In the news again:
Longmont's chickens were in the Denver Post last week: More cities welcome chickens

Chickens in the local paper

There's a nice article about Longmont hens in today's TimesCall titled Coming home to roost - Chicken supporters say newly legal birds worth the cost, effort.

Also, as of Friday morning, Ben Ortiz reported to me there were about 10 chicken permits remaining. Details on obtaining a permit can be found here.

Chicken permits selling out fast

Chicken permits in Longmont went on sale this morning and as the doors of the Development Services Center opened at 8 a.m., there were about a dozen people waiting in line to get their hands on one.

According to the TimesCall, by 11 a.m. only half of the 50 permits approved by city council remained available for purchase.

City planner Ben Ortiz said, "We've issued 28 of the 50 available permits as of 4:30 this evening. I suspect the remainder will go by the end of the week."

The new ordinance that allows up to 4 hens in residential backyards is a trial run that will expire at the end of 2010, at which time the city council will determine whether or not to allow all Longmont residents the opportunity to own hens.

For more information on how to buy one of the 22 remaining permits, click over to this post with details on where to go and what to bring.