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 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 :? A@DEA@?:?8 E9:D[Q D2:5 {@C:6 $>:E9[ uC2?<=:? r@F?EJ q@2C5 @7 $FA6CG:D@CD 492:C 2?5 v:==D rC66< C6AC6D6?E2E:G6] k^Am People are also reading… State bar suspends Rocky Mount mayor Holland Perdue's law license Franklin County man gets 46 years for Gretna murder of high school coach Ferrum softball coach Josh Freeman resigns after three losing seasons Products at 3 Rocky Mount vape shops seized for possibly illegal THC amounts 3 degrees in 4 years: Ferrum grad makes the most of her time in college Franklin County leaned overwhelmingly against redistricting as vote passed statewide Franklin County man sentenced in fatal Henry County crash Judge reinstates Martinsville's mayor, delays hearing Richmond judge dismisses Republican bid to block new maps Monte Coleman, a mainstay of Washington's Super Bowl teams, dead at 68 State police announce US 220 safety crackdown across region The Michael Jackson movie leaves out his accusers. Where are they now? Supreme Court of Va. leaves redistricting certification block in place ahead of final ruling Melania Trump tells ABC to 'take a stand' on Kimmel after 'hateful' joke Roanoke Valley farmers feel cost of Iran war in rising fuel and fertilizer prices kAm$>: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 The 10 safest cities in the United States Republican lawyer makes closing argument, Democrat makes rebuttal Republican lawyer makes closing argument, Democrat makes rebuttal AP top stories April 26 AP AP top stories April 26 AP top stories April 25 AP AP top stories April 25
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.
