A Cranbrook resident is asking the city to permit chickens, goats and rabbits in residential backyards.

A letter from Sven Heyde was accepted by council at its regular meeting on Monday, February 6.

Heyde pointed to the growing passion for local, organic foods in his request.

"Raising animals for protein or fur in small-scale settings within city limits would empower citizens, reduce our city's carbon footprint, allow for the creation of local manure, keep rotten food out of the landfills, improve citizens' diets by allowing them to control the diet of their layer birds or meat," wrote Heyde.

In Vancouver, residents can keep registered hens in coops, as long as they are for personal use only and are not slaughtered on an urban property, Heyde pointed out.

In Seattle, citizens are allowed up to three animals, such as rabbits and goats, and up to eight domestic chickens, in lots that are less than 20,000 square feet.

Heyde suggested the city amend its bylaws to allow backyard husbandry, but place restrictions such as a maximum of five hens, no roosters, and only one goat.

"A dog, after all, need be no more disruptive to neighbours than even a quiet dog," he wrote.

Heyde also recommended that the city require coops to be built further than 20 feet from any house, and kept clean to minimize odor.

"I do not advise that the city require citizens to register livestock," wrote Heyde. "One aim being the democratization of food, requiring citizens to register their animals seems counter to the spirit of this policy."

Receptive to the idea, council referred the letter to the city's Family and Community Services Committee.