Takoma Park Adopts Backyard Bovine Bill
At the February 9th City Council meeting, Takoma Park officials adopted Ordinance 2023-119, which allows for having backyard bovine. To comply, residents who have cattle, or plan to, must seek a permit, obtain site plan approval, and hold a Cattle Keeper Certificate.
Backyard milk and beef cows became popular during the pandemic, and the recent spike in grocery prices have spurred even greater interest. The Takoma Park chapter of Backyard Bovines USA estimates 200 backyard cattle are kept in the city.
"We haven't bought milk, cheese or meat since lockdown," said Cathy O’Leary, a Takoma Park resident who keeps two milk cows and an Angus calf on her 1928 bungalow's 5,000 square foot lot. "We slaughtered our last Angus in November 2021 and still have steak in the freezer," O’Leary told The Montgonion.
The Council decision isn't without controversy. The Community Cattle Assessment by the City's Committee on the Environment showed that urban bovine are distributed unequally among the city’s wards.
“Environmental justice calls for engaging the participation of lower-income and minority residents in urban bovine policy and management, and correcting inequities in the benefits and burdens of backyard cattle," committee member Hamilton B. Urglar told the Montgonion. "This ordinance fails to achieve that."
“They are like family members” says Takoma Park resident Cathy O'Leary
The new Takoma Park site plan and applications requirements include:
A maximum of four cows may be kept. Bulls are prohibited, except studs may be brought on site for up to 7 days.
A cattle barn or enclosure is required. The floor area cannot exceed 80% of the lot or parcel. Barns must be a minimum of 6 feet from any dwelling or principal structure on any adjacent lot or parcel.
Pasture areas must comply with municipal code §12.08.060 - Uncontrolled growth of lawns on private property.
Manure slurry pits may not exceed 8 feet in depth. The minimum setback from any lot line is 3 feet.
The new ordinance is effective immediately, but residents with cattle have 30 days to comply with the regulations.
