CAMBRIDGE RESIDENTS PETITION FOR RAISING BACKYARD CHICKENS
Cambridge residents are asking the city of to reconsider allowing backyard chickens.
Madison Turner, a resident in Cambridge, started a petition asking city council to reevaluate Section 5 of the Animal Control Bylaw and to allow ownership of backyard chickens.
In 2019, Cambridge council voted against allowing backyard chickens in the city. Kitchener, Waterloo and Wilmot Township, in contrast, allow residents to have poultry within the city.
While Turner said she has received a few emails in response from the City of Cambridge, she has not gotten any direct answers or action.
“In 2016, Cambridge residents expressed interest in allowing backyard hens in residential zones. The raising of backyard hens is currently not permitted in Cambridge’s Official Plan, Zoning By-law and Animal Control By-laws,” Shawn Falcao, chief of staff at the City of Cambridge, said in a statement.
Following the interest seen in 2016, the City of Cambridge conducted a review of the Zoning and Animal Control By-law. The review was presented to the public in 2018 followed by a recommendation plan in 2019.
“Based on feedback received and concerns noted, Council made the decision to not allow hens in residential zones in 2019,” the statement said.
For Turner, the idea behind the petition started when she began building a backyard garden with her family in summer 2025.
Turner is also passionate about the benefits of having backyard chickens, such as sustainability, cultivating a self-reliant community and living harmoniously with nature.
“[The] cost of living is a huge reason that I think it would be beneficial to others. The price of groceries [has] gone up,” Turner said.
“We rely a lot on Uber Eats and DoorDash and Instacart…The pollution and environmental impact that that causes, as opposed to having a couple chickens in your backyard is a benefit,” she said.
In line with some of these benefits, Turner also noted that spending time outside maintaining chickens is an opportunity for folks to be present and slow down amidst busy lives.
“Instead of scrolling on your phone for an hour, maybe be out there in your chicken coop and being with nature…I think it’s good for the soul,” Turner said.
While Turner has seen a positive response to the petition from fellow Cambridge residents, she has also heard from residents who do not want to see laws change around backyard chickens.
“Some people want cats and dogs. Some people don’t want any. Everybody has their own preference,” Turner said.
“It’s bizarre to me that I can drive five minutes away and…our neighbours just down the road can have chickens,” she said.
Moving forward, Turner hopes the petition will motivate the City of Cambridge to reconsider their decision made in 2019. So far, the petition has received over 1,400 signatures.
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