I live in Carroll County MD on just under 1/2 acre in an AG zoned area, not in a city, not in a sub division, BUT in rural farm country of Carroll County Maryland. Our property is Zoned AG and the Zoning law states that I can poultry on my property with no restrictions on the amount and I have registered my flock. I also have filed for my license to sell chickens and eggs in Maryland. I also been talking with Maryland AG to come to inspect and NPIP certify my flock which is part of the permit process to sell chickens and eggs…
A complaint was made to the county about my chickens and Turkeys. Carroll County sent us a letter stating we had too many chickens on our property and we had to call them within 10 days so I did. They asked me how many chickens/Turkey I had on my property. I told them around 40. I also told them that I am getting rid of 7 roosters and 14 hens and my normal sized flock is around 20 to 30 pending on if I was growing some out to see what they look like or replacing layers. Well you would think I had shot the Pope by their reaction!! They said OMG your property is way too small for that many Chickens!!! And I had to reduce my flock to 6 total ASAP and how soon could I do it. I said hold on a minute what are you talking about??? I’m zoned AG right?? The Zoning inspector said yes I said ok what does the zoning LAW state?? The inspector said all it said was in an AG zoned area you can have poultry on my size property and with no number restrictions I said ok what’s the problem?? The inspector said well because the County Zoning Administrator made what they call a ""declaratory ruling"" Anybody on 1 acre or less could not have more than 6 chickens so because I live on little under 1/2 acre Carroll County Zoning Administrator has decided I can have only 6 animals total on my property even though I am zoned AG!!!
I explained to the inspector that my flock I have been working on is 18 to 23 birds and in the spring and summer I like to raise some meat chickens and turkeys to eat so at that time I could have more on the property. I explained that the layers give me enough eggs for my family to eat and I can sell some to cover feed costs for all of the chickens.. I also use the Chicken poo to fertilize my raised bed gardens to grow my produce.. Carroll County zoning said it didn't matter if I wanted to raise my own food or not, if I farmed or use my sized property for AG and if I sold eggs or chickens I would be breaking the law.
Here is the definition for a DECLARATORY RULLING. An opinion by the Zoning Administrator as to a matter of general interpretation of a provision in this chapter. A DECLARATORY RULLING is intended to give guidance to facilitate uniform interpretation of an ambiguous provision in this chapter and is not to be construed as binding in any fact-specific case
MY Yard is very CLEAN and does NOT SMELL, I take very good care of my poultry so no issues there and they plenty of room, I average 60sqft per bird!!! Who gives them the right to tell me I cannot grow/raise good natural food for my family. What?? So they can force me to go to the store and buy food when I can produce it myself???
I told the inspector that I am not willing to reduce my flock to 6 birds but I was willing to reduce to 24 birds and I was going to sell chickens, eggs and produce grown and raised on my property. I also let her know that I had registered my Birds with the state of Maryland and also filed the paperwork to sell eggs and chickens. I also told her by what the Zoning law stated I was in compliance with the law and the DECLARATORY RULLING was not LAW. She said they would make a ruling and then site me for non compliance and then I had 30 days to appeal the board’s ruling and plead my case to the Zoning Board but if I lost the appeal they could come right out and seize my poultry..I told her yea right like I would get a fair chance with you the Zoning board. I also let the inspector know that this issue needed to go to District Court for and ruling on what the law actually states and what I law actually need to comply with… SO we will see what happens
Has anybody else in Maryland had any issues like this??
A complaint was made to the county about my chickens and Turkeys. Carroll County sent us a letter stating we had too many chickens on our property and we had to call them within 10 days so I did. They asked me how many chickens/Turkey I had on my property. I told them around 40. I also told them that I am getting rid of 7 roosters and 14 hens and my normal sized flock is around 20 to 30 pending on if I was growing some out to see what they look like or replacing layers. Well you would think I had shot the Pope by their reaction!! They said OMG your property is way too small for that many Chickens!!! And I had to reduce my flock to 6 total ASAP and how soon could I do it. I said hold on a minute what are you talking about??? I’m zoned AG right?? The Zoning inspector said yes I said ok what does the zoning LAW state?? The inspector said all it said was in an AG zoned area you can have poultry on my size property and with no number restrictions I said ok what’s the problem?? The inspector said well because the County Zoning Administrator made what they call a ""declaratory ruling"" Anybody on 1 acre or less could not have more than 6 chickens so because I live on little under 1/2 acre Carroll County Zoning Administrator has decided I can have only 6 animals total on my property even though I am zoned AG!!!
I explained to the inspector that my flock I have been working on is 18 to 23 birds and in the spring and summer I like to raise some meat chickens and turkeys to eat so at that time I could have more on the property. I explained that the layers give me enough eggs for my family to eat and I can sell some to cover feed costs for all of the chickens.. I also use the Chicken poo to fertilize my raised bed gardens to grow my produce.. Carroll County zoning said it didn't matter if I wanted to raise my own food or not, if I farmed or use my sized property for AG and if I sold eggs or chickens I would be breaking the law.
Here is the definition for a DECLARATORY RULLING. An opinion by the Zoning Administrator as to a matter of general interpretation of a provision in this chapter. A DECLARATORY RULLING is intended to give guidance to facilitate uniform interpretation of an ambiguous provision in this chapter and is not to be construed as binding in any fact-specific case
MY Yard is very CLEAN and does NOT SMELL, I take very good care of my poultry so no issues there and they plenty of room, I average 60sqft per bird!!! Who gives them the right to tell me I cannot grow/raise good natural food for my family. What?? So they can force me to go to the store and buy food when I can produce it myself???
I told the inspector that I am not willing to reduce my flock to 6 birds but I was willing to reduce to 24 birds and I was going to sell chickens, eggs and produce grown and raised on my property. I also let her know that I had registered my Birds with the state of Maryland and also filed the paperwork to sell eggs and chickens. I also told her by what the Zoning law stated I was in compliance with the law and the DECLARATORY RULLING was not LAW. She said they would make a ruling and then site me for non compliance and then I had 30 days to appeal the board’s ruling and plead my case to the Zoning Board but if I lost the appeal they could come right out and seize my poultry..I told her yea right like I would get a fair chance with you the Zoning board. I also let the inspector know that this issue needed to go to District Court for and ruling on what the law actually states and what I law actually need to comply with… SO we will see what happens
Has anybody else in Maryland had any issues like this??
I will give it a try. anything will help at tis point.
