An animal-keeping ordinance is in the pipeline in Detroit after more than a decade of work spearheaded by Detroit City Council President Pro Tem James Tate. The ordinance would govern policies for beekeeping, chickens and ducks. Credit: Mark Covington

FUN FACT: In the 1700s Belle Isle was referred to as “Hog Island” and allowed public use for keeping animals there.

Hey, it’s JB!

A proposed animal-keeping law that would allow Detroit households to have up to two honeybee hives and up to eight chickens and/or ducks could soon make its way to the City Council for a vote.

I wanted to make sure you knew about your opportunity to weigh in on the proposal tonight at a City Planning Commission on the 13th Floor of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 2 Woodward Avenue. The hearing begins at 6:15 p.m. and can also be attended virtually.

For the ordinance to be passed and made into law, the City Council has to vote on it after the City Planning Commission makes a recommendation.

(Credit: Mark Covington)

Earlier this month, ordinance sponsor City Council President Pro Tem James Tate held an online question and information session with more than 100 people in attendance. You can read more details about the meeting and the proposed ordinance in my article linked below or by checking out my radio discussion on WDET’s The Metro with hosts Tia Graham and Nick Austin.

One thing I forgot to mention on the air that’s important for this discussion: Other major cities including Boston, Cleveland and Baltimore have similar ordinances allowing chickens, ducks, and bees.

I’ll be at the meeting listening to your feedback and will have an update at bridgedetroit.com on Friday morning.

Do you support an animal-keeping ordinance allowing residents to keep chickens, ducks, and honeybees? Let me know below!

I’ll share the results in next week’s newsletter.

Dig In,
JB

Read about the animal-keeping ordinance
  • Nearly a year after opening, Detroit’s carrot cafe is still serving “nude raw carrots,” with added food items on the menu and extended hours.
  • Michigan’s largest commercial food waste digester is shutting down after a dispute with the state. Digesters convert food waste into gas used for energy.
  • The Detroit Peoples Food Co-op is holding a hiring fair March 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and March 14 from 2-7 p.m. at the Considine Center. Applications are required for interviews.

A schedule of pop-ups for the week:

Fri., Feb. 23
Maryam Khan of Khana at Frame, 23839 John R Rd. 5:30 and 8:30 p.m.
Indigo Culinary Co. at Two Birds, 8130 Kercheval Ave.
Randos Sandos at Brewery Faisan, 1087 Beaufait St. 5-9 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 24
JP Makes and Bakes at Craig’s Coffee, 412 Peterboro St.
Konjo Me at Two Birds, 8130 Kercheval Ave.
Chi Fan Le at Brewery Faisan, 1087 Beaufait St. 6-8:30 p.m.
Detroit Coffee Club at Dyno Detroit, 3500 Orleans St. 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 25
Marksie Cooking at Two Birds, 8130 Kercheval Ave.
Fried Chicken and Caviar at The Shelby, 607 Shelby St. 11 a.m.-2:45 p.m.
Elle The Foodie at Cafe Alto, 3100 Woodward Ave. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Detroit Coffee Club at Dyno Detroit, 3500 Orleans St. 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tue., Feb. 27
Hightower Catering at Two Birds, 8130 Kercheval Ave.
Fried Chicken and Caviar at The Congregation, 9321 Rosa Parks Blvd. 5-9 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 28th
Shaebi at Folk, 1701 Trumbull. 8 p.m.
Fried Chicken and Caviar at The Congregation, 9321 Rosa Parks Blvd. 5-9 p.m.
Sandos Detroit at Two Birds, 8130 Kercheval Ave.

Thanks WDET for having me on to talk about the animal-keeping ordinance.
Have a fun fact, pop-up, or food story to share?

Jena is BridgeDetroit's environmental reporter, covering everything from food and agricultural to pollution to climate change. She was a 2022 Data Fellow at the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism...