Will Oro-Medonte crack on backyard chicken bylaws?

The possibility of fresh eggs laid right in Oro-Medonte backyards will soon be sunny-side up on council’s plate.

For nearly a decade, the topic of backyard chickens in residential areas has left many residents squawking with opinions. In a recent township survey, 127 responses were received to this question: “Do you support allowing backyard chickens in additional non-agricultural zones throughout the township and settlement areas?”

Just under 56 per cent of people said yes, while roughly 44 per cent didn’t crack on the idea.

In 2016, staff reviewed zoning policies and presented a report recommending that up to six hens be allowed as an accessory use on smaller rural properties. This applied to lots that were not large enough to meet hobby farming or intensive agriculture.

• Push underway to bring backyard chickens to Oro-Medonte

The township then permitted limited backyard chickens under specific zoning but not in general residential areas.

Under the current rules for backyard chickens in Oro-Medonte, municipal law has dealt with common complaints related to noise, smelly odor and the attraction of rodents.

The Simcoe County Federation of Agriculture (SCFA) has now weighed in. In a letter dated April 29, 2025, the organization expressed concerns about the risks these small birds may pose to commercial poultry operations.

According to the SCFA, approximately 930,000 chickens are raised annually on Simcoe County farms. The organization highlighted the potential for backyard or small flocks to contribute to the spread of the avian flu and infectious laryngotracheitis in poultry.

Avian flu and infectious laryngotracheitis can have significant and sometimes devastating impacts on the poultry industry, and over the past several years this has put areas of Ontario in quarantine for weeks.

Despite these worries, local municipalities like Clearview Township, Parry Sound, Springwater, Newmarket and the City of Orillia have explored backyard chicken bylaws.

In response to a recent motion, Oro-Medonte council has asked staff to review Orillia’s backyard chicken bylaw with the possibility of egging on a new approach.

Orillia’s permanent backyard chicken program allows for the keeping of up to four hens on properties zoned rural, residential, parkland and open space or institutional, and having a minimum lot area of 500-square-metres. The hens must be kept in a coop with an enclosed, outdoor run.

Council directed staff to prepare a report outlining the key elements of Orillia’s plan.

Whether Oro-Medonte ‘crosses the road to get to the other side,’ is really left in council’s hands. Staff will prepare a report on Wednesday outlining the key elements of Orillia’s by-law, its successes, and recommendations on how a similar approach could be adapted in Oro-Medonte.