Clarksville, TN .... Help!! :(

I'd love to help in any way. The laws are confusing and hard to understand. We got chickens, followed the rules, and then realized that we are also zoned R2. I've heard 200 ft then I've seen 10 ft. My neighbors have no clue I have chickens. They are quieter than the millions of dogs that bark all night and there's no smell. Also, I've recently heard they are trying to allow people to be able to keep bees. (Which I'm totally find with as long as I can keep my chickens!)

CrispyTeacher said:

I'd love to help in any way. The laws are confusing and hard to understand. We got chickens, followed the rules, and then realized that we are also zoned R2. I've heard 200 ft then I've seen 10 ft. My neighbors have no clue I have chickens. They are quieter than the millions of dogs that bark all night and there's no smell. Also, I've recently heard they are trying to allow people to be able to keep bees. (Which I'm totally find with as long as I can keep my chickens!)

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Funny you should mention bees.... I'm the one who was cited with a notice of violation for having them. There isn't a law against keeping bees in the city and that's what all the hubbub is about. The director of building and codes is misinterpreting the law. Cityofclarksville.com has the recorded city council meetings if you're really interested in knowing the whole goings on.

Chickens are next on my list of policies to amend.

EllyHood said:

Funny you should mention bees.... I'm the one who was cited with a notice of violation for having them. There isn't a law against keeping bees in the city and that's what all the hubbub is about. The director of building and codes is misinterpreting the law. Cityofclarksville.com has the recorded city council meetings if you're really interested in knowing the whole goings on.

Chickens are next on my list of policies to amend.

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Yes I will look into that and attend. I honestly think it's great. I would love if you were my neighbor because my garden would then be happy. I just do not understand why it's a big deal. My chickens hurt no one. Do you know the next date? Is there a way to get more people involved? I just do not know where to start.

My husband and I have just moved to Clarksville, sadly within the city limits, but are zoned R1 so we can at least have chickens. Our immediate neighbors are unconcerned about chickens or bees but we have a few nosy walkers that like to complain about the fact that we are transforming our suburban landscaping into a suburban homestead. With that said, I found the chicken permit info (kinda ridiculous on some points, particularly since where I am being forced to locate the coop is the worst place for my back neighbors) but cannot seem to find anything but state info on bee keeping. There are two other open and obvious bee keepers on the other side of my neighborhood who look like they have had them for years. I would ask but one gentleman is rather unfriendly and the other seems to work nights. Does anyone know where I can find info? I would call the bldg and codes folks but I try to limit my dealings with them. Thank you all in advance! I am so glad to have found this forum, Amy and family

furiousfive said:

My husband and I have just moved to Clarksville, sadly within the city limits, but are zoned R1 so we can at least have chickens. Our immediate neighbors are unconcerned about chickens or bees but we have a few nosy walkers that like to complain about the fact that we are transforming our suburban landscaping into a suburban homestead. With that said, I found the chicken permit info (kinda ridiculous on some points, particularly since where I am being forced to locate the coop is the worst place for my back neighbors) but cannot seem to find anything but state info on bee keeping. There are two other open and obvious bee keepers on the other side of my neighborhood who look like they have had them for years. I would ask but one gentleman is rather unfriendly and the other seems to work nights. Does anyone know where I can find info? I would call the bldg and codes folks but I try to limit my dealings with them. Thank you all in advance! I am so glad to have found this forum, Amy and family

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City council recently passed the Best Management Practices into policy for keeping bees in the city. The Montgomery County Beekeepers Association meets in the Library the first Saturday of the month (more info can be found on their website). Here is the Best Management Practices that you must follow if you want to keep bees within the city limits.

http://www.tn.gov/agriculture/forms/apiary/honeyBMPpolicy.pdf

You should also read over the Tennessee Apiary Act of 1995 to know your rights and responsibilities as a beekeeper.
http://www.tn.gov/agriculture/publications/regulatory/tennessee apiary act.pdf

Welcome to the beekeeping club!

PLEASE email all city council members and request an amendment to the chicken permit. The current permit only allows for chicken keeping within the city limits if you are E-1, R-1, or R-1a. R-1a minimum lot size is 12000 sq ft ~ .275 acre. There is no reason that the permit should allow all Clarkville homeowners on 12000 sq ft or more with single family dwellings to keep chickens (R-2 and down have smaller minimum lots and sometimes multi-family dwellings which can cause issue if say, 1 set of duplex tenants want chickens and the other set doesn't). Councilman Bill Summers told me that it's too hard to enforce if they include too many zones and that's why it's set up the way it currently is. They have only had 24 permits applied for in the 2 years since the permit was put into place. Clearly it isn't working as it is currently written.

I'm new to the area and read the city regulations about chicken coop, etc. I have never raised chickens but want to have fresh eggs. If I understand correctly, 6 hens is the limit and the coop plans have to be submitted and approved by city before proceeding. If someone has done this, would it be possible for me to see what you've done? I'm a visual person and that would help me a lot. Also, I do not know what zone I live in. We live off of Trenton Road, close to Exit 1. Does anyone know if that is the acceptable area?

Thanks for helping a rookie.

We currently have chickens inside city limits (we are around exit 1 also) and we didn't get a permit although I know technically you are supposed to. We live on an acre and a half and nobody can see the chickens or the coop and the neighbors don't care about us having them. They actually enjoy it because they get fresh eggs. Good luck if you decide to get them.

I just moved to Bristol, VA (Lee county) and wonder where do I find out if I can have a backyard flock?

Good news! They just amended the permit to include R-2 and R-2a (with a minimum lot size of 12,000 sq ft)!!!! YAY!!!
They haven't updated the permit yet but Building and Codes told me you can either hand write in R-2 or R-2a on to the current permit or wait for the updated permit to be amended. Building and Codes actually came to my house to share that information with me.

Chicken Cas, call your local Building and Codes.