City Guides

Urban Agriculture Resources

Have questions about composting, backyard chickens, or growing food in Grand Rapids?

This guide contains resources on composting regulations and permits for greenhouses and backyard animals.

 

Did we miss something?

Give us a call at 311 or 616-456-3000 and we’ll help answer your question.

Learn about the Urban Agriculture Committee

Select a topic you want to learn about:

Backyard Composting
chicken icon

Backyard Chicken Permits
bee icon

Backyard Bee Permits

Community Gardens

Growing in front yards and parkways

Building a Greenhouse

The Urban Agriculture Committee

 

 

Composting in your backyard

Compost is broken down organic material that is used as a soil conditioner and fertilizer for plants. It is considered “gardener’s gold” because of the many benefits it provides for plants and soil. Mixing in compost with garden dirt will improve air flow, water retention, and provide essential nutrients for the plants you grow!

You can create your compost on residential properties if a few simple rules are followed:

  • Feedstock materials must be placed in a fully enclosed, rodent-proof, compost bin(s) 
  • The bin(s) must be tightly covered, except when depositing and removing materials
  • The bin(s) must be placed in the rear yard only, not the front or side yards
  • The maximum size of the compost bin(s) is 64 cubic feet per property

 

Compost bin(s) shall be constructed of rigid and durable materials. The following materials are not allowed in construction of receptacles:

  • burlap
  • tarps
  • vehicle tires
  • wire mesh
  • chicken wire
  • flexible fencing

Outdoor compost bins are available online and at local home improvement stores.

 

You can read the full ordinance on composting HERE

(Title IX, Article 8, Section 9.108 [5a - 5g] Nuisances Prohibited on Public and Private Property)

 

 

Residential Compost 101

Close up of food scraps including egg shells, corn husks, onion skins, fruit peels, and leaves.

Acceptable Materials

Adding the wrong materials to your compost pile will attract animals or create bad odors. To prevent this, only the following materials should be added to your backyard compost receptacle:

  • Fruit and vegetable peelings, cores, stems, trimmings
  • Leaves (shredded if possible)
  • Lawn waste without pesticides or fertilizers
  • Egg shells (crushed if possible)
  • Coffee grounds
  • Paper coffee filters
  • Paper napkins without chemicals
  • Unwaxed cardboard without tape or glue
  • Tea leaves/bags without staples
  • Spent flowers and garden clippings
  • Houseplant clippings
  • Young weeds without seeds
Items taken out a compost bin including a knife, plastic coffee filters, and foil wrappers.

Unacceptable Materials

The following should NOT be put in any non-commercial compost:

  • Animal litter (cats, rodents, etc.) 
  • Diseased plants
  • Invasive weeds
  • Lawn waste with pesticides or fertilizers
  • Medical waste
  • Chemical cleaning wipes
  • Ash
  • Dryer lint
  • Chemically-treated wood/lumber
  • Non-organic materials:
    • Glass, metal, or plastic
    • Rocks, concrete, or asphalt
    • Cement, ceramic, or brick

The following are NOT allowed to be composted on your property:

  • Domestic animal waste (dogs, cats, etc.)
  • Meat, fish, or bones
  • Grease, oils, or fats
  • Cooked foods (including dairy products and bread), leftovers, or spoiled food
The side of an outdoor compost bin is removed to show alternating layers of brown and green materials.

Controlling Odors

Having the correct balance of “green” (fresh grass clippings, fruit/vegetable peelings, etc.) and “brown” (dry leaves/plants) materials is important for decomposition and odor control. A cared-for compost bin will smell like fresh garden soil and not rotting food. 

The green materials have a high nitrogen content that causes the mixture to heat up and break down more quickly. The brown materials soak up the water from the green materials and add space for air to prevent foul odors.

A ratio of 1/3 green to 2/3 brown is a good mix, but you can add more brown material, as needed, to keep your compost fresh.

Do you have too much yard waste to compost?

Click here for yard waste options from the City of Grand Rapids.

Backyard Chickens

You can have chickens on your residential property, but you will need a permit. Here are some of the rules you need to follow if you have a permit:

  • Roosters are prohibited

  • No more than six (6) chickens

  • Chickens must live in the backyard

  • Chickens must be in a fenced-in coop

  • Chicken feed should be in rodent-proof container

  • No butchering of chickens on the property

Click on a section to expand and learn more:

Coop and Yard Requirements

Your property must meet the following requirements to be eligible for a chicken permit:

  • Be at least 3,800 square feet (0.087 acres) in area
  • Not include more than 2 dwelling units

 Chickens must be kept in a fenced-in coop or chicken house that is:

  • Located in the rear yard of the property 
  • Uses less than 50% of the of the rear yard
  • Coop must be under 8 feet tall
  • Coop must be less than 6 square feet per chicken
  • Only one coop for keeping chickens
  • Coop and yard must be 10 feet away from all property lines

You can look up your property size on the City Assessors Property Search. Once you find your property, scroll down to the Land Information section. You'll find the total acres listed. If you can't find your property size, give us a call at the number listed in the Contact Us section. We'll look it up for you.

Number of Chickens

The total number of chickens allowed is dependent on your property size:

  • No more than four (4) chickens are allowed to be kept on a single-family or two-family lots 3,800 to 5,000 square feet
  • No more than six (6) chickens are allowed to be kept on a single-family or two-family lots 5,000 square feet or larger

Chicken feed must be in rodent resistant and weatherproof containers. The person keeping the chickens shall abide by all health and safety standards of the City's Property Maintenance Code.

Chickens may not be butchered, slaughtered, or otherwise killed, for any reason or any purpose, on any real property on which chickens may be kept pursuant to this ordinance.

Roosters are prohibited, regardless of the age or maturity of the bird.

If you are applying for a Backyard Chicken permit, check with your adjacent neighbors before submitting your application. Share your reasons for wanting chickens and your plans to minimize noise, odor, and disturbance. If any of your neighbors object, the City can't issue you a Backyard Chicken Permit.

Keep in mind that together, you and your neighbors form a strong community. Working together to proactively avoid issues or to resolve an issue can create a stronger block & neighborhood.

Do you want to have chickens in your backyard?

You can apply for a backyard chicken permit if your property meets certain size requirements. 

You can read the full ordinance on chickens permits HERE

(Title IX, Chapter 155, Article 3. Backyard Chickens)

 

You can read the full ordinance on chicken coop structures HERE

(Title V, Chapter 61, Article 2, Section 22 Backyard Chickens)

Backyard Chicken Permit

Backyard Bees

You can keep bees in a hive or box on your residential property, but you will need a permit. Here are some of the rules you need to follow if you have a permit.

Click on a section to expand and learn more:

  • More than 150 feet from any residence, hospital, medical facility, school, church, office building, store, hotel, apartment house, rooming house or any place of habitation
  • At least 150 feet from the edge of the beekeeper’s own lot or property line

Any person raising bees within the City needs to have a hedge, shrubbery, or solid fencing around each box or hive that is at least six (6) feet tall. We require this so that bees have a high flight path above the head of an average human being when exiting and entering their hives.

Do you want to keep bees in your backyard?

You can keep apply for a backyard bee permit if your property is large enough to follow the requirements of where hives can be located.

You can read the full ordinance on beekeeping HERE

(Section IX, Article 2. Bees)

Backyard Bees Permit

Community Gardens

There are 26 unique community gardens throughout the City of Grand Rapids- some are for growing food and others are botanical. To find the one closest to you check out the Urban Agriculture Map provided by the City of Grand Rapids Development Center.

 

This map showcases community gardens and approved permits for backyard chickens and bees in the City of Grand Rapids.

Click the arrow above "City of Grand Rapids" to expand the map data table.

Growing in Front Yards & Parkways

You can grow native or edible plants in your front yard as long as guidelines are followed to prevent blocking clear vision areas around sidewalks and driveways. It is important to maintain clear vision areas in specific locations for the safety of pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers.

Please be aware that in certain circumstances plantings may need to be removed for infrastructure improvements (service line repairs, etc.).

Click on a section to expand and learn more:

A clear vision area is typically the triangular area at the intersection of two streets, or a street and a driveway. 

Street Corners. For streets, it is measured as twenty (20) feet along each lot line starting at the intersection of the lot lines, and connected by a straight line to form a triangular area.

Driveways. For driveways, it is measured as ten (10) feet along the lot line and the driveway starting at the intersection of the lot line and the closest edge of the driveway, and connected by a straight line to form a triangular area.

Any planted vegetation in these areas should be less than 30 inches to maintain clear sight lines.

You can have arbors, trellises, pergolas and similar garden structures in your front yard as long as:

  • Structures comply with clear vision requirements
  • Structures are at least three (3) feet from front and side lot lines
  • Structures are shorter than six (6) feet tall

Growing in the parkway or right-of way (the area between the sidewalk and the street curb) is allowed as long as the guidelines above are followed to keep clear vision areas around sidewalks and driveways.

Any planted vegetation in these areas should be less than 30 inches to maintain clear sight lines. Keep in mind that you should keep a ten (10) foot radius around fire hydrants and utility poles.

No structures (arbors, trellises, etc.) are allowed in the parkway / right of way.

Trees in the parkway / right of way are planted and maintained by the City.

Click here for tips on how to care for your street tree and information on requesting a tree.

You can read the full ordinance on yard maintenance HERE

(Title IX, Article 8, Section 9.108 [2a - 2c] Nuisances Prohibited on Public and Private Property)

Greenhouses

Greenhouses are considered an accessory structure in the City of Grand Rapids zoning code. They are allowed with a permit on residential property if a few simple rules are followed:

Click on a section to expand and learn more:

Greenhouses must be located in the side yard or rear yard.

Materials must be durable and long-lasting. The structure cannot be built with tubes, canvas, plastic film, or similar exterior materials.

A zoning permit is required for all accessory structures. You can find this permit online or download a paper copy on the Planning Department page.

Click here to download a PDF of Frequently Asked Questions about for Accessory Structures.

Do you have questions on building or locating a greenhouse on your residential property?

Contact our Development Center

 

You can read the full ordinance on greenhouses HERE

(Title V, Chapter 61, Article 2, Sec. 5.2.208 Accessory Structures)

Greenhouse Permit