Changes for owners along with potential owners of chicken and fowl in the City of Lathrop will soon take effect.

The Lathrop City Council approved an amendment to its “Keeping of Fowl within City Limits” ordinance by removing the lot size requirement at the April 14 meeting.

That’s good news for residents of small lots. They’ll be able to own fowl as long as enclosure setbacks coupled with the sanitary conditions are maintained.

Mayor Paul Akinjo sees some of the benefits, in particular, with chickens being part of cost-effective sustainable source of health foods such as eggs.

“The price of eggs today are so bad,” he said at last month’s session.

Scratched from the existing municipal code was omitting the minimum lot size of a minimum of one-third of an acre.

The municipal code allows for residents to have at least 12 mature animals (cumulative rabbits and fowl), with set requirements for enclosures – 50 feet from the dwelling and 25 feet from the lot lines – to be maintained for both sanitary and humane conditions.

Elected leaders noted that no chicken or fowl can be owned by those living within city limits in areas governed by CC&Rs or HOAs. Included is the River Islands community.

They added that the changes to this ordinance, for the most part, affect those living in the older east side of Lathrop.

In addition, resident / owner – per the amendment – will be required to “submit to inspection by Animal Control Officers” while prohibiting fowls to run around at-large or in public places.

Lathrop police Chief Stephen Sealey noted at the January meeting that changes to this ordinance came about as a result of his department having to address various issues, including noise and smell complaints.