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Aggravating_Foot_528 t1_je4hyaq wrote

you used to need to apply for a permit - https://apps.pittsburghpa.gov/dcp/Urban_Agriculture_Handout_New_Legislation_Version.pdf

But now it seems you don't -

https://firemancreative.net/city-of-pittsburgh-passes-new-urban-agriculture-zoning-code/

https://apps.pittsburghpa.gov/dcp/2015.03.10_-_Urban_Agriculture_Final_Revision.pdf

I'd still call the city anyway to find out the exact requirements. It seems that you need a decent amount of space even for a few chickens within the city, and not many people have that much space especially if you're in an east end neighborhood.

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el_goate t1_je4iutg wrote

Neighbor had some two doors down in Brookline until the hawks, foxes, or coyotes got in. The sounds didn’t bother me too much. Would have been better if they didn’t have a rooster. The hens clucking was minimal and I didn’t notice any smells. Go for it!

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Tchotchke78 t1_je4jls1 wrote

Replying to el_goate (#2,443,787)

A lot of people don't realize how secure a coop needs to be, chicken wire doesn't cut it! Small predators can easily get through that. Just curious about the rooster situation... did they leave him in an outdoor coop?

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AccomplishedCut4207 t1_je4jvjc wrote

My neighbors have them. Their fence is not very secure and they are often loose, which scares me because one time they got into my yard and my dog was chasing them…but I mostly was just upset that the chicken is now traumatized 😂 other than that, they are very quiet and I’ve had no issues. Especially when they share their eggs!

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el_goate t1_je4k439 wrote

Replying to Tchotchke78 (#2,443,920)

I believe so. They have a wooden coop with a fenced in run attached. All within a fenced in yard. However, the coop was right up against the back of their yard which is adjacent to a large wooded area with lots of predators. I never actually saw the birds. Only heard them.

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jreiland07 t1_je4kvfw wrote

Well I know someone in my neighborhood does because I hear it at 4 AM every day

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SewBee_It t1_je4sk7y wrote

No permit needed-just make sure you have enough square footage on your property and a proper sized coop!

No roosters allowed.

The only time my hens are really singing their egg song is around 10-10:30am

Check out r/backyardchickens for other tips.

I’m also happy to help out-I live in the city and have had chickens for a year now :) feel free to DM

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Novel_Engineering_29 t1_je4t0x2 wrote

I have kept chickens in Stanton Heights for years. I have a 5 foot chain link fence and they rarely get out (when they do it's because the local squirrel terrorizes them). Roosters are illegal in the city and hens are quieter than your average pet dog so the neighbors don't care. Keep your coop tidy and your food locked up to prevent vermin. I recommend getting a "no waste" feeder because chickens are the messiest eaters on earth and the local rats will move in to clean up the excess unless you prevent that.

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SewBee_It t1_je4tu6p wrote

Replying to ClothesGreen8716 (#2,445,891)

Oh, excellent-I thought you were starting from scratch. You should be all good then so long as you have the space!

People are always so interested in our birds when they walk by (our yard faces an alleyway) so be prepared for some gawkers lol 😂

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Asleep_Heron2179 t1_je4widy wrote

Our neighbors chickens got loose. One laid eggs at next doors house. A hawk killed a few. Keep your chickens in your own yard.

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kgreys t1_je4x9km wrote

I have two neighbors with chickens. I think it's awesome. I never hear them. Get those chickens!!

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JAK3CAL t1_je4yp9a wrote

We kept a large flock but just over the border in Warshington co; some pro tips anyways, hens are quiet so no one cares and if you share eggs when you can everyone loves you anyways. Good luck!

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KentuckYSnow t1_je51due wrote

The raccoons will love you for bringing them fresh chicken.

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RoguePierogi t1_je59ij0 wrote

I occasionally watch my neighbors' chickens when they're out of town and I love it! There was one incident of something getting in (lost 2 that time) and another time they got out but I believe all came back... But considering that's all the chicken drama for 4 years, not too bad!

I think that a lot of our other neighbors have no clue the chickens are even back there.

I can occasionally hear them clucking from my house, but it's not disruptive or disturbing by any means. I think it's so cool to be able to hear both the T announcing "Red Line, North Shore" and chickens from my yard. Oh, Beechview.

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Floopydoodler t1_je6ccio wrote

I looked into it a few years ago and the permit fee was $350 and the requirements were for more land than I had to place a coop far enough from property lines. 😞

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PollyEsterCO t1_je6ewzb wrote

My neighbors have them! They have about five chickens in a small backyard enclosure that’s decorated with string lights and has a door that allows them access into a (presumably heated) garage for when it’s cold.

I love to watch the chickens when I drive by! I highly recommend the chickens, if not solely for the eggs then for a positive egg-sperience 😁

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dingurth1 t1_je8ctok wrote

Replying to Floopydoodler (#2,456,929)

I don't know if things have changed since then or if you were looking in the wrong place, but there's no permit requirement, and afaik, for zoning it only needs a 5ft setback. But you do need a minimum 2000sqft lot space (including the footprint of the home)

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Floopydoodler t1_je9tm9o wrote

Replying to dingurth1 (#2,472,665)

It was an informational talk at the library. It seemed legit and there were a couple of speakers (one was from the city of Pgh, can't remember who the others were), they even talked about getting your nearest neighbors to sign off or something to appease the permit requirements. But my takeaway was the cost of the permit and the amount of land needed was larger than my lot, so I didn't explore it further. I'm sure things have been updated as this was about 10 years ago.

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