{
 "answer": "The City of Essex Junction, Vermont has 1 adopted ordinance on file: Municipal Code Chapter 17 - Ordinance Regulating Keeping of Domesticated Chickens in Backyards, verified 2026-09-22.",
 "municipality_id": "gx-028525",
 "municipality": "Essex Junction",
 "status_type": "City",
 "jurisdiction": "Vermont",
 "country": "US",
 "topic": "backyard_animals",
 "label": "Backyard hens & livestock",
 "status": "found",
 "last_verified": "2026-09-22",
 "official_website": "https://www.essexjunction.org/",
 "documents": [
  {
   "primary": true,
   "is_official": true,
   "title": "Municipal Code Chapter 17 - Ordinance Regulating Keeping of Domesticated Chickens in Backyards",
   "category": "backyard_animals",
   "document_type": "code_chapter",
   "status": "adopted",
   "adopted_date": null,
   "document_url": "https://www.essexjunction.org/fileadmin/files/Ordinances_Codes/Municipal_Code/municode17.pdf",
   "summary": "Requires an annual $35 permit to keep up to 4 female chickens per lot for personal (non-commercial) use; sets enclosure and setback requirements; agriculture/farming and permitted livestock uses exempt.",
   "document_number": "17",
   "link_dead": false
  }
 ],
 "source": "https://govanswers.org/us/vt/essex-junction/backyard-hens/"
}