Due to a nationwide egg shortage, Brooke Rollins, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture appointed by President Trump, suggested on Fox News that one solution could be for some families to raise backyard chickens. This marks the second major egg shortage in the past five years. The first, during the COVID-19 pandemic, was driven by hoarding and delivery disruptions, while the current shortage is primarily due to Bird Flu and industrial farming practices.

Within the Deer Park City limits, owning chickens, ducks, or other livestock is prohibited. The city ordinance restricts these kinds of animals, with the potential of fines and loss of property for owners, and does not distinguish between residential or commercial zones. Despite that, Tractor Supply, located within the city limits, is currently selling chicks and ducklings. Many residents of Deer Park already have chickens at their homes within city limits regardless of the risk of fines. Since 2021, a growing number of individuals have called for Deer Park laws to be changed.

An Egg Emergency

In February of this year, during a City Council meeting, it was asked if an emergency declaration could be used to allow chickens until the laws could be updated. During the first city council meeting in March, Council Member Billy Costello read a memo from the city attorney that was supposed to be a response to this question. However, the letter did not mention an emergency declaration and only covered the upcoming updates to the city’s comprehensive plan. The city attorney operates under the direction of Mayor Tim Verzal.

Steep Fines For Chickens

During the last regularly scheduled city council meeting, the Mayor clearly stated that no one had been fined for owning chickens. Another council member expressed that no one would be fined for owning chickens in Deer Park. However, it is the responsibility of the Mayor to direct city staff regarding code enforcement, including fines for violations.

In the summer of 2022, Nick Richardson commented at a city council meeting about receiving threats from the city to fine him $500 per day for having chickens on his property within city limits. Failure to pay fines issued by the city could result in property seizure and public auction.

Updating City Laws

Legalizing chickens and possibly other livestock in Deer Park requires updating both the city’s comprehensive plan and ordinances relating to pets and livestock. The comprehensive plan is a document required by state law for funding and guiding ordinance development. It’s also possible that zoning rules would also need to be amended.

In the past, the council cited a lack of citizen interest as the reason for not pursuing legalizing chicken ownership.

In 2022 the council had support enough, both on the council and from citizens, to vote to add chickens to the Comprehensive Plan during its next required update, scheduled to be completed in 2026. During this time Mayor Verzal told the Gazette that the Comprehensive Plan could not be amended to allow chickens and that it would have to wait until the required update. Zoning would also need to be updated.

Now the Mayor and staff are saying there is no reason to start the amendment process to the comprehensive plan because it would double up some costs and only speed up the process by a month or two at best. However, they now acknowledge that an amendment to the comprehensive plan is possible.

In a recent Facebook post supporting chickens, Council Member Jason Upchurch said, “This issue has gone on too long. Back [in] 2022 I emailed Roger Krieger about the process to add chickens. He said we should be able to have it done by 2023 or 2024.”

Though the city has started updating the laws, there is still a long process ahead. In order to update the comprehensive plan, environmental impact studies, hearings, and response periods are required.

The ordinance change process can be started immediately and completed by the time the new comprehensive plan is in place; however, no one on the council has brought this up as a motion. The ordinance to allow chickens and possibly ducks & rabbits would need to complete a three-reading process (unless waived by a majority vote of council members). All ordinances are required by state law to have at least one public hearing.

Homeowners associations may opt to disallow chickens and livestock regardless of what the city decides to do.

Getting involved

According to a post by Council Member Jason Upchurch chickens should be on the agenda for the meeting on March 19th. The next council meeting will be held at 7:00 pm at the Deer Park City Hall at 316 East Crawford Street.

On Facebook, a group supports legalizing chickens, ducks, and rabbits. The group currently has 276 members. You can join the group at DPGazette.com/backyardfarmers

Additionally, should you desire, you can report illegal chickens or other public nuisance issues via the city’s iWorQ portal located at  DPGazette.com/iworq

Sources:

• “Chickens in Residential Zone Memorandum.” City Of Deer Park, 4 March 2025, DPGazette.com/acjl0
• Schut, Richie. “Chicken Discussion At City Hall.” Deer Park Gazette, 2 August 2022, DPGazette.com/qhyd0
• McGonigal, Jane. “USDA predicts spike in egg prices amid bird flu, egg shortages.” YouTube, uploaded by Fox News, 1 March 2025, DPGazette.com/rpph7
• City of Deer Park. “Chapter 6.22 Livestock, Poultry, and Exotic Animals.” Deer Park Municipal Code, DPGazette.com/ps0yg Accessed 16 March 2025.
• Jason Upchurch – Deer Park Councilman. Chicken Part 2. Facebook, 5 March 2025 of Post, 5:11PM, DPGazette.com/zd6x5 Accessed 16 March 2025.