Anyone keeping chickens in Mauldin SC?

[knitnspinner]

I'm in Mauldin SC and had a small flock of hens a couple of years back. We were Greenville county when I got the chicks and were later annexed into Mauldin-the zoning official told my neighbor(who had some young roosters also)and me that the chickens had to go-that Mauldin would not allow livestock on less than one acre. And that chickens = livestock. We talked a bit through email and then when he came out, and he said at the time that attempting to change the ordinance would probably not be successful given who was on the committee. So we just gave up. And cried a little-especially my dd.
But I do have another neighbor now who has two hens. They are at least a year or two old now. I just kept hoping that zoning wouldn't find them(the official told me that he walked the neighborhoods each summer and checked backyards)
Tonight I was thinking chickens again(happens from time to time

)so I came here and after logging in and reading the "change your local laws" thread, I decided to pop over to my local gov't website to see if anything had changed in my zoning code. I can't find the livestock/chicken info at all anymore. Well, except that cattle and goats can't roam the streets!
Anyone in or near Mauldin know the facts?

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

I don't know the regulations, but most town will allow hens only (no roosters) but they have to be a certain distance from any residential structures. Try calling your Ag Extension service office and they can direct you more on the regulations. Good luck!

 

[knitnspinner]

Thank you, greenfamilyfarms. I did some searching and I did find it again. Hadn't read it in a couple of years, but this is what was quoted to us by the zoning guy back when we had the chickens.

Section 7:5 Livestock in Residential Districts
Livestock, excluding pigs and sheep may be kept in the R-20, R-15, and R-12 districts subject to
the district regulations and the following conditions.
7:5.1 Site
The minimum lot area upon which livestock may be kept is one acre. Not more than one head of
livestock shall be permitted for each one-half acre of lot area

I know that they are classifying chickens as livestock (which seems funny to me as a TX transplant-a chicken isn't a "head" of livestock, my friends) Is there a way to get livestock defined? My chickens definitely fell under the "pet" category.

 

[knitnspinner]

Edited:duplicate post

 

[jjhnsn26]

I currently reside in the city limits of Mauldin and have backyard chcikens, They are well kept and I have invested alot in the food, coop, and all to protect my chickens and also medicine to keep them healty. I have had them for over two years now and when I attempted to shoot a Hawk to keep it from attacking my chickens and my small dog, I was later visited by the Mauldin City code enforcement officer and told I had two weeks as of 07/28/2012 to remove the chickens because they are illegal to have in the city limits and I could appeal this decision but it cost $100 to file an appeal and its a 50-50 chance of winning. I do not use my chickens for profit the are stricly pets and for egg production for my family and also used for fertilizing my garden and flower beds. Does anyone know any way to get some support so I can keep my chickens. Clearly they are not livestock and they are my pets. Chickens are defined by Clemson, the city of Greenville and the County of Greenville as poultry. Unlike Mauldin whos ordinance pertains to Livestock. No place in the ordinance does it list chickens on livestock. So any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you all.
Ryan Johnson

 

[chfite]

You may have some pending opportunity to ride on the coattails of the pending ordinance for Greenville County to permit chickens in residential areas.

http://www.greenvillecounty.org/gcpc/current_planning/pdf/chicken_ordinance.pdf

This may be worth pursuing with your town council or appropriate regulatory body.

Chris

 

[william123]

Guys there is a group who fights for farming, hunting, and animals ownership. They are located in Anderson County. I do the groups web-site and facebook page. There will be a meeting at the anderson county library July 11th. You guys need to join. www.scagcomco-op.com facebook is South Carolina against the HSUS Scam. This groups help animals owner fight ordances and laws that target you.