Change ordinance

[Tala]

I would like to get the following removed or changed from the Benton, AR animal control ordinance:

"All pens or enclosures where chickens, ducks, or other fowl are kept shall not be less than 100feet from any residence or business establishment"

can anybody tell me how it's done?

 

[theFox]

Quote:
Sure,

You contact your city/town/whatever councilor/selectman/whatever and ask that they sponsor a more reasonable distance and to exclude the owners residence from whatever the setback requirement is.

You could if your town/city/whatever allows initiatives to be placed on the ballot circulate a petition towards that end.

If you can't find someone to sponsor such a change you can always run for a council/whatever seat and also work against any of the councilors that rebuffed you.

You could also go for a statewide change to the law, in order to override the towns the law must grant you the right to have .... and not just allow chickens, and yes there is a huge difference.

For one the state can allow you to have chickens but the towns can say sure, here are all of the rules you must follow effectively denying you, with a right they can't.

Will this guarantee such a change no, however it is a start.

Also if you do succeed in getting the matter before the council/whatever be certain that you have a ton of information backing your change and a lot of local support. If the council/whatever votes your proposed change down you might be able to have the matter brought up again by approaching one of the no votes and asking for reconsideration on the following grounds ..... (pay close attention to what every council/whatever member says as this can be key in getting things reconsidered).

Sometime sweetness wins and sometimes only arm twisting wins. Young people have gotten chicken rules changed in the past.

Now the sticking points, you really need to do this before getting birds and building coops/runs etc .... Otherwise you are not going to be able to claim the high road and human nature being what it is you'll get no votes for that reason from some people. Also it isn't unknown for the powers that be to pile on if this is the case.