Chickens will be allowed in the Columbus city limits under a compromise reached last night by Columbus City Council.

The changes to the animal care ordinance would allow some city residents to have up to four chickens on their property, although they must be in a back yard at least 20 feet from neighboring properties and must have eight feet of space for each chicken. Raising chickens would only be an option for property owners and would require registering with the state.

The council has been wrangling over the chicken restrictions since last fall and had formed a citizen’s committee to study the issue. That committee originally recommended up to six chickens on properties. Although several committee members disavowed the proposal, saying it came from city officials and not from citizens.

Councilman Dascal Bunch was the only one to vote against the changes to the ordinance.