Are chickens legal in Tullahoma, TN city limits?

[tantricdragon13]

My sister recently moved to Tullahoma, TN and has always wanted to have a small flock of chickens. She's hoping to start her flock next year. However, she always wants to make sure she's on the up and up and has been trying to find out if the city allows chickens within its limits. We looked everywhere we could think to look online and can't find anything. Several people within a mile of her home have chickens, and so did the prior owner (thought they're not a very good reference lol), but she has wanted to double check. Having chickens doesn't mean it's legal! lol

Was just wondering if there was anyone local that could confirm? TIA

 

[aart]

I think it is @U_Stormcrow that is good at ferreting out this kind of info.

 

[tantricdragon13]

Well that is encouraging to hear!

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I've been summoned (and just came inside from feeding the birds and the goats). let me see what I can dig up - soon as I pour something to help me warm up.

Do you happen to know her Zoning??? and if she is in any HOA? If you would prefer, you or she can message me privately with an Address, or I can help you figure out what her zoning is @tantricdragon13

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Yes*, they are, with significant limitations, see here (beginning at page 198 - physical page 199)

10-108. Domestic fowl and other exotic game birds.
(1) It shall be unlawful for the owners or others having care and custody of any chickens, ducks, geese and other domestic fowl and exotic game birds to permit same to be at large on any private property, including that of the owners or those having the care and custody of same, or on any public street, highway, alley, park, and other public places and ways within the city.

(2) Such domestic fowl and exotic game birds shall be confined in a coop or fowl house not less than eighteen (18) inches in height. The fowl must be kept within the coop or fowl house at all times. The coop or fowl house must be used for fowl only, and must be well ventilated. The coop or fowl house shall have a minimum of four (4) square feet of floor area for each fowl. The run must be well drained so there is no accumulation of moisture. The coop or fowl house shall be kept clean, sanitary, and free from accumulation of animal excretion and objectionable odors. The coop or fowl house shall be cleaned daily and all droppings and body excretion shall be placed in a flyproof container (such refuse shall not be placed in containers for city solid waste collection). The coop or fowl house shall be a minimum of twenty-five (25) feet from any property line. All portable coops or fowl houses including, but not limited to, pens, cages, crates, etc., shall not be located closer than twenty-five (25) feet from the side or rear property line.

(3) No more than twenty (20) such fowl or exotic game bird(s) shall be kept or maintained per acre with the number of fowl proportionate to the acreage. In determining the number of domestic fowl permitted, only fowl six (6) months or older in age shall be counted. No domestic fowl or other exotic game birds shall be kept or maintained on a parcel of land less than five (5) acres in total area for one parcel of property.

(4) The raising of domestic fowl and other exotic game birds shall not be permitted within any residential district as defined by the Zoning Ordinance for the City of Tullahoma and the Official Zoning Map for the City of Tullahoma except those parcels located in an R-1, Low Density Residential District, or R-1A and R-1AA Single Family Residential Districts, greater than or equal to five (5) acres in total land area for one parcel of property. The raising of domestic fowl and other exotic game birds shall be permitted in all agricultural districts as defined in the Zoning Ordinance for the City of Tullahoma and the Official Zoning Map for the City of Tullahoma. (1988 Code, § 3-108, as replaced by Ord. #1348, Dec. 2006)

tl;dr?

IF you have a large enough property, AND you have the right zoning, then you *may* have up to 20 birds per acre, PROVIDED that they are in an enclosed coop/run AT ALL TIMES, that the structure be located at specified distances from all property lines SUBJECT TO minimum height and square footage requirements, AND ALSO cleaned daily, and droppings disposed of in the proscribed manner.

Zoning Map is here

So, unless Tullahoma TN is rather rural, and the properties commensurately large, there's a decent chance that the prior owner, and the chicken keeping neighbors are all in violation of local ordinances.

Easy. Faster, when not using a cell phone. Admittedly, it helps to know what to search for - I've had some practice.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Now, the caveats.

I am NOT an Attorney. I am NOT admitted to the Bar of any State, nor licensed to practice as a lawyer in any jurisdiction, or before any governmental body. I DID NOT SLEEP IN A HOLIDAY INN LAST NIGHT. ...and I have no desire whatsoever to run afowl of the last remaining medieval guild of any power.

This is NOT Legal advice. No Attorney/Client relationship has been created here. This is merely the opinion of a reasonably well read lay person with some odd reading habits. Its worth not more, and perhaps less, than you paid for it. Caveat Emptor*.

*also, I nearly failed Latin, and would have, if the instructor had not imagined himself an insightful philosopher who assigned "a cute little book about bird" as extra credit...

 

[aart]

soon as I pour something to help me warm up.

Dropped below 80, did it?
(just yanking your chain)
Thanks for answering the call.

 

[GigitheBackyardHerbilist]

My sister recently moved to Tullahoma, TN and has always wanted to have a small flock of chickens. She's hoping to start her flock next year. However, she always wants to make sure she's on the up and up and has been trying to find out if the city allows chickens within its limits. We looked everywhere we could think to look online and can't find anything. Several people within a mile of her home have chickens, and so did the prior owner (thought they're not a very good reference lol), but she has wanted to double check. Having chickens doesn't mean it's legal! lol

Was just wondering if there was anyone local that could confirm? TIA

She should be able to go to get Tennessee gov site. It should be listed.
I live in Indianapolis and I can.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Dropped below 80, did it?
(just yanking your chain)
Thanks for answering the call.

40s tonight. I was out in my skivvies with a flash light reminding the birds I moved to the grow out pen a couple days back that there is a grow out coop, with roost bars, inside the barn. They wouldn't go thru the door, and wouldn't stay in when shoved. Had to pick them up, one by one, carry them out the run, into the barn, into the coop in the barn, set them on the roosting bars, repeat.

I probably should have worn a shirt.

Just payinging back the debt I owe BYC for the help I recieved getting started.

 

[Brooks_]

Dropped below 80, did it?
(just yanking your chain)

You think you're jesting, but it's real. Below 80 and power lines freeze.