Is your city charging you to keep laying hens?

There A Chick

Chirping
15 Years
Jun 7, 2008
65
1
92
Kelley, IA
Hello, I've just found out today that my city council has voted to allow residence to house up to 6 laying hens. ok, yay! This was in my local paper. The next sentence said "The council has yet to determine a cost for residents who want to raise the animals."

I guess first off, I'd like to ask if this is normal that the city would actually CHARGE their residents to have the birds?? I mean, we have to feed them, that is cost right there. Isn't the main reason for having laying hens is to save money on the grocery bill. So, charging residents is kind of self-defeating, I would think.

I feel like now is the time for me to write the city council a letter or maybe even go before them and try to persuede them NOT to charge people for this. I think if I could site how other cities handle this, it could help my cause. They are even discussing issuing permits to have chickens. hmmmm.

I would really like to know how other cities do this. Any input is greatly appreciated. thanks.
 
The city I live in allows up to 10 poultry on a lot the size I have. No cost. However, if you want certain types of quail, you need a license. Getting that license costs about $10, IIRC, and results in property inspections. Many municipalities require a dog or cat license if you want to keep a pet. That may be what they're planning on doing where you are, needing to get a license to keep chickens.
 
In my city, there are NO restrictions of chickens, whatsoever. They are not considered livestock here, (though you are completely restricted from owning pigs, sheep, cows, donkeys, and the like unless you own a farm -- which my neighbor does
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) and as such you can have as many as you like, without obtaining a permit. However, I wouldn't consider this "well-written" or anything of that sort, because the law simply doesn't mention chickens. At all. So you can do anything you want with chickens, because there isn't anything about them in the law!

The next city over, however, does require an expensive ($500, I think) permit to keep as few as three chickens, and another permit (less expensive, but I don't remember the cost) if you would like to increase your "chicken limit" to ten birds. Also no roosters. Thankfully I live where I do!
 
In my town we aren't charged for the chickens but we do have a $25 barn inspection fee yearly. That applies to all who own poultry, sheep, pigs, goats and horses.
 

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