Item - 2022.EC28.10

Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:

1. City Council direct that the current pilot project in Chapter 349, Animals, Section 349-4.1, Hens pilot program, be extended until March 31, 2023.

2. City Council direct the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to conduct further consultation on the proposed changes for a permanent program outlined in Recommendations 1 to 3 in the report (March 10, 2022) from the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, and to report back to the Economic and Community Development Committee in January 2023.

This report outlines findings from a final review of the UrbanHensTO backyard hens pilot program. The report recommends that the program be made permanent and expanded city-wide based on the successful results of the pilot. Overall, there have been no significant issues with the pilot program and complaints related to the pilot and hen keeping city-wide have been low. The program has provided benefits to participants such as access to fresh local eggs, educational opportunities related to food systems and urban agriculture, and has supported mental health, as noted by program participants.

There is public support for hen keeping among Toronto residents and the majority of stakeholders consulted support program expansion. Additional resources and enhanced registration requirements for hen owners (for example, annual flock registration and cost recovery fees, a pro-active site inspection, and required education) are recommended in this report. It is anticipated that the proposed additional requirements, in addition to the existing terms and conditions of the pilot program, will mitigate nuisance, public health, and animal welfare concerns related to expansion.

Expanding the program city-wide will increase equitable geographic access and allow more diverse neighbourhoods to participate. To further improve equitable access, staff are also recommending community hen keeping projects be considered on a case-by-case basis, in partnership with other City divisions and community organizations to help address individual cost barriers and allow residents without sufficient private outdoor space to participate in the program.

Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 349, Animals, currently prohibits animals in the order Galliformes (which includes hens), with the exception of hens registered under the UrbanHensTO pilot program. The UrbanHensTO pilot program began on March 2, 2018 and allows registered households to have up to four hens for the purposes of enjoyment and personal egg production; roosters are prohibited and hens cannot be raised as livestock to eat. The pilot program applies to four former City of Toronto wards (Wards 5, 13, 21, and 32). As a result of ward changes in 2018, the program currently applies to some parts of Wards 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 14, and 19. Following City Council's decision in December 2020 to extend the pilot for one additional year, the pilot will expire on March 31, 2022.

City staff undertook a final review of the pilot program beginning in late fall 2021. The review included consultations with various City divisions as well as food policy and animal health and welfare stakeholders. Public opinion research and a public survey to solicit feedback on the future of the program were also conducted. Key considerations during the review included impacts on food security and food sovereignty, access to veterinary care, animal health and welfare, public health and nuisance, and equity impacts.

Staff recommend that bylaw amendments come into effect as of April 1, 2023 to implement the city-wide permanent backyard hen-keeping program, and that the current pilot program be extended until this date.

This report was developed in consultation with Toronto Public Health.