Are chickens noisy and smelly?

I would suggest looking into your city's laws again. They may have changed. Sometimes, you can go to the city counsel and ask for an ordinance to allow chickens as a domestic animal. Maybe they have never thought about anyone wanting to raise chickens. I know that where I live within the city limits, I am only allowed up to 6 chickens, no rooster, and their dwelling cannot be within 150 feet of a neighbor's house or property. If I would live outside the city limits, there are no restrictions.