And so it begins ( I could use a bit of advice please)

[Sonia]

I just got a visit from the city building inspector. Apparently our local ordinances have changed (before we got the chicks) and we ARE allowed to have up to 3 chickens. BUT they have to be 50 feet from any dwelling or street. My yard is not big enough for this. He is going to drop off the paperwork later today for me to apply for a permit to keep Penguin, Petrie and Padma but I do not think they will issue it because I do not have them housed outside.
I am going to write up a proposal asking for permission to keep them as housepets as we have been doing. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what to include in this proposal?

 

[asher]

No idea. Did your spouse indeed end up "reporting" you for this? *sigh* Sorry you are having to deal with this, too!

 

[Sonia]

Yeah he reported me. (he also is trying to press charges against me for assault but that is another story.) I just talked to both of my neighbors and they agreed to write letters to whomever that they don't care if I have chickens in my house.

 

[ibpboo]

How big is your yard? You can't get them 50ft away? Just have a small coop outside, and then keep them in house!! So sorry for all this you're going through.

 

[Sonia]

I have about 15 ft between my house and the sidewalk on three sides of the house and none on the fourth side.

 

[ibpboo]

50ft sounds like an awful lot. Guess they are really trying to keep chickens out. Whats the difference between chicken and large caged bird? Sorry, I'm not being helpful. guess you could apply and see what happens, but then if they deny, how often do they check to make sure you do not have them anymore and whats the consequences. good luck

 

[Sonia]

The ordinance prohibits chickens or ANY fowl without this special permit and them being 50ft away from dwellings and streets....it make NO exception for pets. Consequences are $25-$300 fine per animal per day.

Methinks I will be starting a petition for an exception for pet birds of all species.

 

[wegotchickens]

Sounds like a good plan. Because if you have someone malicious in your world then they will cause you trouble over this unless you get the permit.

 

[Chirpy]

Oh Sonia - I'm so sorry that you are now facing another 'issue' in life. I don't have any experience with this but here are a couple of thoughts...

1) Would your neighbors be positive and write letters to support your keeping your chickens?

2) Start a petition now, as you have already stated you might do.

3) Find statutes in other cities nearby that allow chickens without the special permits and use those to 'fight' this.

Good luck.

 

[Sonia]

Yes my neighbors have agreed to write letters for me. They thought it was cool/funny that we had chickens here and some of them didn't even know it lol.

Does anyone have a reccomendation for a good petition site?


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