Charlotte County Florida ordinances

[EightIsEnough]

Yeah - I was shocked when I was told I could not keep chickens on RE-5 last year this time, and was asked to remove them because they were in violation of the county code. A sad day. That's why I want this to pass, so I can have chickens again.

I did get a response from the Zoning Agent, who shared that they ARE going to vote on Phase 1 of the new zoning proposal. It will be brought up on September 9. I already took the day off.

Zoning Agent said they decided to break it into "phases" because is was so large, the zoning community thought the board would never be able to digest the whole proposal. We are fortunate in Phase 1 is the zoning for chickens. The Zoning Agent said that if they pass it, it could go into effect that same day, or in a few days, as long as it to be registered with the State in Tallahassee.

However, the Phase 1 Zoning Proposal has changed since I last read it. Old one mentioned that RE (residential estates) was going to AG (agriculture), and that is not the case now. And chickens are permitted, upon conditions, where before RE-5 was going to be AG and I could have 12 chickens per acre. That whole section is scratched out. I only see where you can keep 3 chickens, but again on RE-5 (5 acres) only 3 chickens seems limiting. Three are better than none. See what you think:

http://www.charlottecountyfl.com/Co...LandDevelopmentCode/Chapter-2_ULDC_013114.pdf

I e-mailed my commissioner and encouraged him to vote YES for Phase 1. [email protected] is my commissioner.

 

[ChickChick Nana]

Thanks for the great information. I too called Zoning today and was told that there might be something on RF 5's, but it was not concrete. I was also told that since I live in District 5, which is not agricultural, that we were not allowed to have chickens. If a neighbor complains then someone would be out to resolve the problem. I am planning on writing my County Commissioner, Ms Duffy, and see what I get back. In the mean time if anyone knows how Lee & Sarasota County handle RF, or RF 5 please let us know. I am planning on going to the meeting in September to voice for RF residences, but I would like to have some information on how the surrounding counties managed. My neighbors don't have any problems with my five girls, but I just don't like the idea that someone can come in and say I can't have them. I wouldn't mind meeting up with any of you all to put forth a plan to present to the CCB in September. You all have a great weekend and Chicken on.....

 

[EightIsEnough]

I would love to meet. I am off Tues, Fri and Sat. Where are you in Port Chatlotte? I am in Punta Gorda.

 

[EightIsEnough]

I continue to call the Charlotte County Commissioner's office for more information regarding September 9th agenda items and the zoning vote. I plan to write to a letter to the editor of the local Charlotte Sun-Herald regarding the meeting and encourage people to write to their commissioner to vote YES. I am waiting for Zoning personal to confirm a few things before I go to the newspaper. Nothing like printing incorrect information. Hope to meet you, those who plan to attend in September.

 

[suebbrown50]

To: EightIsEnough

I live in Port Charlotte. Both my neighbor and I were given notice last week to get rid of our chickens. Seems like they are running around town handing out notices to everyone with chickens, before the code can change that might permit us to keep them. Both my neighbor and I were able to find suitable homes for our girls so that we are not in violation of the current regulations.

I had 6 beautiful hens about 4 months old and my neighbor had 5 hens just starting to lay. Funny thing is that the bobcat that came into my fenced yard in broad daylight and killed one of my hens and two days later killed three of my neighbors hens is apparently allowable under the code. We may not be zoned for "agriculture" but my residential district allows bobcats, bears, wild hogs, racoons, and opossum to flourish completely unimpeded, regardless of the potential danger to children, pets and citizens. But I had to get rid of my hens because they are too dangerous for Port Charlotte.

I'd like to help get the regulations changed. Unfortunately I won't be in town on September 9th. I sent an email to Tricia Duffy regarding her position on this issue and asking her to ensure the proposed code change being voted on includes all single family residences regardless of acreage.

What else can I do to help?

 

[EightIsEnough]

I am SO SORRY to hear about your chickens. I too had to get rid of my chickens (last year August) because of a neighbor who reported me and my chickens to the county. I have been sick over the event since then. And you are right, other animals (and humans) can get away with murder but all the county does is point at chickens, hens who are harmless. My chickens were my pets, and I continue to fight to get chickens allowed in Charlotte County.

I just got off the phone with the Zoning Board and have disappointing news. Since the Commissioners canceled meetings in August EVERYTHING is pushed out - go figure. The new schedule is as follows:

1 - Meeting of the Zoning Board to discuss Phase 1 of the Zoning Proposal - September 8th, at 1:30 at the Murdock location Room 119 - open to the public but NO commissioner will attend, but public is welcome!

2 - Meeting of the County Board where the Zoning Board members will propose the Phase 1 of the Zoning Proposal, at which time the board will have time to review, etc, at 2:00 at Murdock location room 119.

3 - Meeting of the County Commissioners to ACTUALLY VOTE on the Phase 1 Zoning Proposal, 11/25/14.

I joked, will they cancel that meeting because so close to Thanksgiving - no answer.

What you can do - write/e-mail your commissioner to vote for zoning to permit chickens in Charlotte County. Come to the zoning meetings to help define or understand what the zoning board is proposing. From what I understand they are proposing chickens in rural areas not urban, but not clear what that means for either side. More voices at these meetings the better.

Zoning Board # 941-743-1964. My Zoning contacts are Marian and Jay. Both women are forth coming with information. They will also post the upcoming proposal for Phase 1 that will be discussed on September 8 on the website. When I see it I will post the link here.

Thank you for wanting to help - my goal is to get chickens "approved" to own/have in Charlotte County

 

[loudraven]

How long did you have them? Talk to a lawyer if you have had them for a long time before complaints you might be able to get them back. Good luck

 

[EightIsEnough]

I wish - they have been gone now for a year - good homes, but gone none the less. I am in an equestrienne community, where minimum acreage is 5 acres and neighbors have everything from geese to goats, to llamas to bees, and of course horses and steers and chickens. Hubby and I believe that we were too out spoken at local board meetings (it's a deed restricted community) and "someone" thought we needed to be "taught" a lesson, so sicked the County on us. Along with finding fault with everything from buildings and fence lines, they reported that we housed chickens. All the building codes and fence issues were fought and no contest on those violations, but we lost on the chicken front because chickens are not allowed in Charlotte County.

I had NO IDEA they were not allowed in the county, ANYWHERE but AG (agricultural properties). I am RE-5 (residential estates 5 areas).

I have had chickens since 2008 on my property, free ranging. I started with 2 and the most were 22, at one time 3 roosters. I shared eggs with neighbors and friends and had no issues. Then in August of 2013 when an "anonymous" tip was called into the County that said I had chickens, I was busted. The County rep was a sweet heart and was not going to do anything about it but when he came out to my house, it was a day I had my chickens out, and he saw them in the yard. Granted he passed 4 other homes to get to my house, with chickens in the yards, but because no on called on those homes, those chickens, even though in violation, were not removed.

So I have been following this "zoning" issue for a year now and demanding action. Sarasota has chickens in the county, even in urban areas, and why not Charlotte County. I know of SO MANY chickens keepers in urban and rural areas in the county, enjoying their chickens. But if you are "caught" or tattled on to the county, that's when you are in violations and have to get rid of your chickens.

A sad statement of the times, and of local government. I am hoping to change that!

 

[loudraven]

Wow, I don't encourage being a trouble maker and I think lawyers are the last resort if at all but what a situation you have. I live in Kane IL. a county that prides its self on farm life. I think your best bet is a Freedom of information act form you can fill out on line through your county website. That will let you know who reported you to the county. It will also tell you what the complaint was. I did it and it was super easy. I learned that my neighbor who was taking free eggs and waist for his garden called and complained. Don't let it go. I also went to all my neighbors in the area who had chickens and talked to them about the situation. You should get all those that have and don't mind chickens to go to the county meeting and propose to lift the ban. It does take more then just you to get it done. Keep me posted and I'll be happy to help if I can. Also I called a lawyer just to pick his brain and learned so much in the half hour we talked. It was free, I never planed on retaining him just wanted to better understand the laws and how the system works. Best of luck Mike and Stacey.

 

[suebbrown50]

To: Eight Is Enough and everyone else who wants to fight this battle in Charlotte County

I'm grateful for this wonderful website so that we can reach out and find people in Charlotte County who are sympathetic to this issue. We should all be ashamed of our County Commissioners. My research shows that they have been dragging their butts on this issue for years. And from what is now being reported we can't even count on them voting on this in November. PLUS the ordinance they are looking to approve is inappropriate for most of the residents in the county. They keep delaying the vote and putting off the public hearing portion of their meeting.

I'm thinking that we've given the commissioners enough time. If they can't or won't do this, then we will do it ourselves. That's why America is so great ! !

I think we should ban together to write a petition to put this up for a public vote as a "Ballot Initiative". We will need 10% of the registered voters to sign and get it on the ballot. That means 11,928 signatures as of last week's registered voter total number which was 119,298. If we do it for the entire county, then we can get signatures from any registered voter in the county.

Has anyone drafted what the ordinance should say? If not, then I'll write it myself based on what other municipalities have written for their code.

According to this website, this is a list of Florida cities that permit chickens:
Tallahassee
Tampa
Cape Coral
Sarasota
Pensacola
Pembroke
Panama City
Oviedo
Orange County
Orlando
Orange Part
Jacksonville
Gainesville
Broward County
Lady Lake
Hialeah
Saint Petersburg
Palm Coast
Jupiter
Saint Augustine
Melbourne
Titusville
Lutz
Pinellas Park
Ocala
Lakeland
Bonita Springs

And this is a sampling of large municipalities in other states that permit chickens: (this is NOT a complete list)
Brooklyn, NY
New York City, NY
Rochester, Y
Buffalo, NY
Dallas, TX
San Antonio, TX
Austin, TX
Houston, TX
Denver, CO
Colorado Springs, CO
Boulder, CO
Fort Collins, CO
Provo, UT
Salt Lake City, UT
Salt Lake County, UT
Oklahoma City, OK
Tulsa, OK
Raleigh, NC
Durham, NC
Asheville, NC
Charlotte, NC


I want to add Charlotte County, FL to the list. Who is willing to help?

Respond here so that we can see if we have enough people to get the number of signatures we'll need.