Chickens rule the roost in Clear Lake Shores no more.

During its meeting Tuesday night, City Council approved the amendment of a city ordinance to allow a home to have no more than four chickens, City Administrator/Police Chief Paul Shelley said. It also reinstated a nuisance clause that prohibits chickens from running loose, he said.

“We just wanted to put a little control on it,” Shelley said.

City Council’s action is meant to prevent chicken farms in the city and is also in response complaints about loose chickens, Shelley said. Previously, there was no limit on the number of chickens that a house could have, he said.

Three homes in the city have chickens, Shelley said. There have been problems with chickens getting out at one those homes, he said.

“People were mad,” Shelley said.

Those whose chickens violate the new city ordinance can be fined up to $2,000.