$840 fine for 4 chickens in Vacaville CA

[Habibs Hens]

That Vacaville code isn't the problem, it is this one:



14.09.077.050 Special District Provisions.

The following special district provisions shall apply to the following uses:
A. The raising of poultry, rabbits, and other small animals for non-commercial purposes on a site at least one acre in area, as follows:
1. There shall be at least 1,000 square feet of site area for each fowl or animal;
2. No structure housing poultry or other small animals shall be closer than 50 feet to a dwelling on the site or to a property line;
3. The minimum site area requirements shall not apply for the raising of small animals when in conjunction with a 4-H or similar type project.

I am launching an online pro-backyard chicken keeping ordinance petition. Please support the petition drive by signing and posting widely if you would like Vacaville City Council to change the law to allow owners of lots less than one acre in size to keep small backyard flocks - signatures are especially powerful if from current Vacaville residents:

http://www.change.org/petitions/cit...low-vacaville-residents-to-raise-chickens-now

im not from USA but i signed your petition for ya


good luck

 

[3LilBirds]

That Vacaville code isn't the problem, it is this one:



14.09.077.050 Special District Provisions.

The following special district provisions shall apply to the following uses:
A. The raising of poultry, rabbits, and other small animals for non-commercial purposes on a site at least one acre in area, as follows:
1. There shall be at least 1,000 square feet of site area for each fowl or animal;
2. No structure housing poultry or other small animals shall be closer than 50 feet to a dwelling on the site or to a property line;
3. The minimum site area requirements shall not apply for the raising of small animals when in conjunction with a 4-H or similar type project.

I am launching an online pro-backyard chicken keeping ordinance petition. Please support the petition drive by signing and posting widely if you would like Vacaville City Council to change the law to allow owners of lots less than one acre in size to keep small backyard flocks - signatures are especially powerful if from current Vacaville residents:

http://www.change.org/petitions/cit...low-vacaville-residents-to-raise-chickens-now

I sign the Petition and shared it on FB for you! I love my chickens soo much and couldn't imagine being without them, so I definitely feel for others that are having trouble keep theirs.

 

[ChickiesInUtah]

I signed too, and I hope it counts even if I'm not in California. Best of luck to you all!

 

[cadams]

so if you have a dozen chickens you must have 12000 square foot for them?

 

[MsLisaG]

I'm a bit confused... All of the literature says that Vacaville residents ARE allowed to keep chickens. The feed store in town sells chicks, and the owner of the store says that chickens are allowed. The animal code doesn't prohibit the keeping of chickens on less than one acre lots.

Is the petition trying to get city council to allow more chickens on a less than one acre property?

 

[MsLisaG]

I looked into it more, and it depends on what you are zoned specifically as to whether or not it is legal to own chickens. This is a list of what is permitted in each zone - Residential rural, Residential Estates, Residential Low Density, Residential Medium Density, and so on. It states that in everything but medium/high zones can have poultry - medium and high zones are apartments, condos, etc. I really wish they would streamline their ordinances and not have everything so darn contradictory!

Zoning Districts

RR

RE

RL

RLM

RM

RH

MHP
Accessory uses and structures to a permitted use.

P

P

P

P

P

P

P
Single family dwellings and accessory uses, including:

P

P

P

P

P(1)

P(1)

NP

•

small family day care homes, 8 or fewer children

P

P

P

P

P

P

NP

•

large family day care homes, up to 14 children (2)

P

P

P

P

P

P

NP

•

home occupations (3)

P

P

P

P

P

P

NP

•

raising of poultry, rabbits, and other small animals (4)

P

P

P

P

NP

NP

NP

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: He really doesn't have a leg to stand on regarding the trimming you do to any of your own landscaping, but before building the retaining wall you needed to make sure it was on your property or along the property line. From a legal standpoint, he can require you to move it, and probably have all court and attorney fees assigned to you. You can argue title by adverse possession, but, you would have to prove the specifics your state requires.

 

[rangir]

nnn

 

[MsLisaG]

That is great! I am in Vacaville and I will be happy to go to a city council meeting.

 

[SGlen]

I looked into it more, and it depends on what you are zoned specifically as to whether or not it is legal to own chickens. This is a list of what is permitted in each zone - Residential rural, Residential Estates, Residential Low Density, Residential Medium Density, and so on. It states that in everything but medium/high zones can have poultry - medium and high zones are apartments, condos, etc. I really wish they would streamline their ordinances and not have everything so darn contradictory!

Zoning Districts

RR

RE

RL

RLM

RM

RH

MHP
Accessory uses and structures to a permitted use.

P

P

P

P

P

P

P
Single family dwellings and accessory uses, including:

P

P

P

P

P(1)

P(1)

NP

•

small family day care homes, 8 or fewer children

P

P

P

P

P

P

NP

•

large family day care homes, up to 14 children (2)

P

P

P

P

P

P

NP

•

home occupations (3)

P

P

P

P

P

P

NP

•

raising of poultry, rabbits, and other small animals (4)

P

P

P

P

NP

NP

NP

This is great info thank you for putting this together, but where in this scope does "Special District Provisions" fall into as stated by:

That Vacaville code isn't the problem, it is this one:



14.09.077.050 Special District Provisions.

The following special district provisions shall apply to the following uses:
A. The raising of poultry, rabbits, and other small animals for non-commercial purposes on a site at least one acre in area, as follows:
1. There shall be at least 1,000 square feet of site area for each fowl or animal;
2. No structure housing poultry or other small animals shall be closer than 50 feet to a dwelling on the site or to a property line;
3. The minimum site area requirements shall not apply for the raising of small animals when in conjunction with a 4-H or similar type project.

I am launching an online pro-backyard chicken keeping ordinance petition. Please support the petition drive by signing and posting widely if you would like Vacaville City Council to change the law to allow owners of lots less than one acre in size to keep small backyard flocks - signatures are especially powerful if from current Vacaville residents:

http://www.change.org/petitions/cit...low-vacaville-residents-to-raise-chickens-now