Miniature goats, like this weed-chewing animal minus the horns, can officially live in Brighton backyard, as long as their owners follow the rules, councilors agreed March 7.
Scott Taylor
Worries about noise, smells and overall nuisances that Brighton officials had concerning backyard goats two years ago didn't come to pass, councilors agreed at their March 7 meeting.
Councilors voted to end a limited pilot program that started in Feb. 2021 designed to test how well neighbors would tolerate having a small herd of miniature goats in their neighborhood.
“It hasn't turned out to be the fiasco that everyone imagined,” City Councilor Ann Taddeo said. “I am very, very happy that we are going to make it permanent.”
They agreed unanimously to end the two-year pilot program, allowing residents to keep two goats in their backyards. That unanimous vote included Councilor Mary Ellen Pollack, the sole no vote when the city began the program in 2021.
“That was quite a time. We were not sure which way to go, and we had a lot of yeses and a lot of nos,” Pollack said. Tuesday. “I'd never really been around goats, miniature or otherwise. But they are adorable and I'm glad this can continue.”
Pilot program begins
Councilors discussed the idea for more than a year before starting the pilot program. It first came up in 2019 after Ward 2 resident Jennifer Council, who owned goats, received a notice that she had to get rid of them.
The city polled residents and found most who responded favored allowing goats. According to the survey, those opposed to the idea were concerned about enforcement, smell, goat owner education and noise, among others.
Under the miniature goat pilot program that began in 2021, residents with 7,500 square foot lots or larger could keep two of the animals — not fewer and not more. Both must be female, no taller than 24.5 inches at the tallest point of the back and must be disbudded. That’s a process that burns off the tissue that grows into horns.
Brighton goats must have up-to-date rabies vaccines and on-site slaughtering or breeding operations are not allowed. Only single-family detached properties could keep goats, as long as the property owner agrees. The goat keepers must apply for a permit with the city, which will conduct two inspections — one of the pen and shelter for the animals and a second of the animals to meet the city’s requirements, paying a $100 permit fee.
Goat keepers will also have to take an open-book test on keeping the animals, getting a score of at least 80%.
One house got their goats
Long Range Planner Shannon McDowell said there were several inquiries but only one resident ended up participating and keeping the goats. They were inspected regularly several times over the recent two years.
“They found absolutely no concerns, no noises, no smells and no complaints,” McDowell said. “So, we feel like we had adopted a pretty good program that took care of all of the potential downfalls that could come from such an action.”
The council put a two-year limit on the pilot program, and it was scheduled to end this month.
“That's why we are here tonight, to propose permanency,” McDowell said.
The pilot program did limit the number of permits to 10, but that limit was removed Tuesday night as well.
Councilor Tom Green noted that homeowners associations do have a say, as well.
“In fact, we did have some folks who were interested in participating in the pilot program, but they could not get permission from their HOA, so they did not get a permit,” McDowell said.
Perhaps the biggest turnaround came from Pollack.
“I will, one day, have some,” Pollack said. “I will.
“I would like to have them and I'm glad we have made this permanent,” Pollack said. “I think they help, emotionally, kind of like puppies do. So I'm happy we are moving this.”
