Airdrie backyard hen permit appeal set for July 30, 2026
Two appeals have put Airdrie’s backyard hen rules under fresh scrutiny ahead of a July 30 hearing, with neighbors arguing the proposed flock could bring odors, pests and property impacts.
Airdrie’s Subdivision and Development Appeal Board will hear a challenge on July 30 at 9 a.m. to a conditionally approved development permit tied to Urban Agriculture, specifically backyard hens, under permit PL2600837. The appeal followed a conditional approval by the Development Authority of an application linked to Joseph Lamb, but that approval did not give immediate permission to start construction.
Two appeals landed during the May 13 to June 3 appeal period. Peter Flannigan and Karen Flannigan objected to hens proposed next to their property, saying the flock would likely create air-quality problems from dust, manure particles, odors, mold, insects and rodent-related contaminants. They said the project could also affect their outdoor living space, overall health, and the value and marketability of their home. Irene Dawe filed a separate appeal and urged city officials to weigh the effect on nearby residents before deciding, citing health effects, proximity to outdoor spaces, wildlife and predator interactions, property security, accountability and the difficulty of enforcing long-term rules.
The city had no further comment on the appeal. Under Airdrie rules, a development permit must be issued before most proposed developments can begin, and the SDAB handles appeals of development permit decisions as public hearings. The board schedules a hearing within 30 days of receiving the appeal form and fee.
The Backyard Hens Pilot Project launched in 2017 and was a success, and council approved a land use bylaw amendment on April 6, 2021, to allow backyard hens permanently. The urban agriculture program, including backyard hens, is meant to support environmental sustainability and reduce the carbon footprint of food production by shortening the distance from farm to table.
Airdrie residents may apply for a development permit for a maximum of four hens on a single-family lot, and applicants may need a Provincial Premise ID number. On May 12, 2021, 34 residences were raising backyard hens in Airdrie, most of them from the original pilot. Alberta municipalities that allow hens limit flock size, prohibit roosters, require secure coops and enclosed runs, and regulate odor, pests and other nuisance impacts.
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