Top Story FRANKLIN COUNTY Franklin County chicken and bee zoning overhaul draws resident backlash JASON DUNOVANT The Roanoke Times Apr 8, 2026 Apr 8, 2026 Updated Apr 15, 2026 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Efforts to overhaul Franklin County's antiquated zoning laws is facing growing opposition from residents in recent weeks.kAmp 5C27E @7 AC@A@D65 492?86D E@ E96 4@F?EJVD K@?:?8 @C5:?2?46 92D 366? >6E H:E9 G@42= 4C:E:4:D> @?=:?6 2?5 2E C646?E >66E:?8D] |F49 @7 E96 4@?46C? 4@>6D 7C@> AC@A@D65 =:>:ED @? 49:4<6?D 2?5 366D E92E 42? 36 <6AE :? D@>6 K@?:?8 5:DEC:4ED H9:=6 @FEC:89E AC@9:3:E:?8 E96> :? @E96CD]k^AmkAmsF6 E@ E92E AF3=:4 AFD9324<[ D@>6 4@F?EJ @77:4:2=D 2C6 4@?D:56C:?8 2 56=2J E@ E96 AC@46DD] k^Am kAmQx E9:?< E96C6 :D D@>6 >6C:E :? 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Jeremy Allen White, 'Stranger Things' missed by 2026 noms 'Heat distress' spurred investigation into City Dogs kennel by Roanoke police After impersonating police to confront Rocky Mount mayor, man gets jail time Orange County announces Independence Day facility closures Bird-themed celebration this month at Smith Mountain Lake State Park Miss Virginia's Teen winner, from Rocky Mount, proud to represent community Virginia’s new liquor law reshapes rules for Richmond bar-restaurants kAm$>:E9 D2:5 D96 H:== AC@A@D6 2 56=2J E@ E96 K@?:?8 FA52E6 2E E96 3@2C5VD ?6IE AF3=:4 >66E:?8 @? pAC:= a`] x7 DFA6CG:D@CD 2AAC@G6[ :E 4@F=5 >@G6 324< E96 E:>6=:?6 E@ 8:G6 4@F?EJ DE277 >@C6 E:>6 E@ >2<6 492?86D 32D65 @? 4@>>6?ED 7C@> E96 AF3=:4]k^AmkAmQ%9:D K@?:?8 :D 2 3:8 AC@;64E 2?5 :E 56D6CG6D @FC 7F== 2EE6?E:@?[Q $>:E9 D2:5] k^Am Some Franklin County residents are pushing back on proposed limits on keeping and chickens and bees on their property. The Roanoke Times, File 2015 kAm%96 4FCC6?E E:>6=:?6 :?4=F56D 2 ;@:?E H@C< D6DD:@? 36EH66? DFA6CG:D@CD 2?5 E96 4@F?EJVD A=2??:?8 4@>>:DD:@? :? pAC:=] %96 A=2??:?8 4@>>:DD:@? 92D 366? H@C<:?8 E@ FA52E6 E96 @C5:?2?46 @G6C E96 A2DE J62C]k^Am kAm%96 A=2??:?8 4@>>:DD:@? 92D D4965F=65 2 AF3=:4 962C:?8 @? E96 K@?:?8 FA52E6 :? yF?6] %96 3@2C5 @7 DFA6CG:D@CD 92D 2 AF3=:4 962C:?8 D6E 7@C yF=J] k^Am kAmQx 5@?VE E9:?< E96J 42AEFC65 E96 4F=EFC6 @7 uC2?<=:? r@F?EJ[Q D2:5 &?:@? w2== C6D:56?E %:> (2==[ H9@ 92D 6IAC6DD65 4@?46C? H:E9 E96 492?86D] k^Am kAm(2==[ H9@ 92D 2 D>2== 324<J2C5 49:4<6? 4@@A[ D2:5 9:D 4@?46C? >@DE=J DE6>D 7C@> 492?86D E@ 9@H C6D:56?ED 42? 5:G:56 E96:C AC@A6CEJ :?E@ :?5:G:5F2= A2C46=D] w6 92D 2AAC@I:>2E6=J `__ 24C6D 2?5 D2:5 E96 AC@A@D65 492?86D E@ E96 K@?:?8 @C5:?2?46 H@F=5 =:>:E 9@H 96 5:G:56D 9:D AC@A6CEJ E@ 9:D 49:=5C6? :? E96 7FEFC6]k^AmkAmQ%@ AFE C6DEC:4E:@?D =:<6 E9:D[ :E >2<6D ?@ D6?D6 H92ED@6G6C[Q (2== D2:5]k^Am Surrounded by worker bees, Roanoke County beekeeping enthusiast Tim Vermilion inspects a backyard hive. The Roanoke Times, File 2020 kAmuC2?<=:? r@F?EJ 92D 366? H@C<:?8 E@ @G6C92F= K@?:?8 D:?46 a_ac[ 7@==@H:?8 E96 25@AE:@? @7 2 ?6H 4@>AC696?D:G6 A=2? 7@C E96 4@F?EJ] %96 4@F?EJVD K@?:?8 @C5:?2?46 92D?VE 366? FA52E65 D:?46 :E H2D 7:CDE AFE :? A=246 :? `hgg] k^Am kAmq2D65 @? E9@D6 62C=J 5:D4FDD:@?D :? a_ac[ E96 8@2= @7 E96 K@?:?8 FA52E6 H2D E@ >@56C?:K6 2?5 DEC62>=:?6 E9:?8D E92E 92G6 366? @FE52E65] %9:?8D =:<6 46==F=2C E@H6CD[ D@=2C 72C>D @C D9@CE\E6C> C6?E2=D H6C6 ?@E 4@?D:56C65 H96? E96 K@?:?8 @C5:?2?46 H2D 7:CDE 56G6=@A65] k^AmkAm{:D2 r@@A6C[ uC2?<=:? r@F?EJVD 5:C64E@C @7 A=2??:?8[ D2:5 E96C6 H6C6 ?@ =:>:ED @? E9:?8D =:<6 366D 2?5 49:4<6?D :? E96 `hgg @C5:?2?46] %96 4@F?EJVD @C:8:?2= 8@2= H2D E@ 7@4FD >@C6 @? =:>:E:?8 E96> :? D@>6 DF35:G:D:@?D H:E9 D>2==6C =@E D:K6D] k^Am kAmQx 2AAC64:2E6 E96 AF3=:4 =6EE:?8 FD <?@H[Q r@@A6C D2:5 @7 4@>>6?ED 7C@> C6D:56?ED :? C646?E 52JD] k^Am kAmr@@A6C D2:5 D96 2?5 @E96C 4@F?EJ DE277 H:== E2<6 E9@D6 4@>>6?ED 7C@> C6D:56?ED E@ 7FCE96C FA52E6 E96 ?6H K@?:?8 CF=6D] %9@D6 4@>>6?ED H:== =625 E@ FA52E6D E@ E96 5C27E K@?:?8 @C5:?2?46 2E 7FEFC6 A=2??:?8 4@>>:DD:@? >66E:?8D]k^AmkAmQx E9:?< J@F H:== D66 D@>6 492?86D E@ E92E D64E:@?[Q r@@A6C D2:5 @7 FA52E6D E@ E96 5C27E K@?:?8 @C5:?2?46] k^AmkAmr@@A6C D2:5 492?86D E@ E96 4@F?EJVD K@?:?8 2C6 72C 7C@> 4@>A=6E6] (@C< D6DD:@?D 2?5 AF3=:4 962C:?8D 2C6 DE:== A=2??65 E92E H:== 8:G6 4@F?EJ 4:E:K6?D E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ =6E E96:C 4@?46C?D 36 <?@H?] k^Am kAmQ%9:D :D DE:== :? 5C27E 7@C> 2?5 H:== DE2J :? 5C27E 7@C> F?E:= :E :D 25@AE65 3J E96 3@2C5 @7 DFA6CG:D@CD[Q r@@A6C D2:5]k^Am Jason Dunovant (540) 981-3324jason.dunovant@roanoke.com 0 comments Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Franklin County residents push back on proposed tax increases, zoning changes One speaker called the proposed tax hikes "totally stupid," while another argued that tax revenue helps invest in county services. Watch Now: Related Video A1 Minute! July 1, 2026: Restaurants facing lower customer traffic; Crescent Simple Syrups; Fireworks guide Del. Garrett discusses an amendment to open carry of assault firearms Del. Garrett discusses an amendment to open carry of assault firearms Sen. Surovell discusses amendment on Oak Hill Farm Sen. Surovell discusses amendment on Oak Hill Farm Sen. Stuart discusses amendment on menhaden Sen. Stuart discusses amendment on menhaden
Franklin County residents push back on proposed tax increases, zoning changes One speaker called the proposed tax hikes "totally stupid," while another argued that tax revenue helps invest in county services.
A1 Minute! July 1, 2026: Restaurants facing lower customer traffic; Crescent Simple Syrups; Fireworks guide
