Charlotte County Florida ordinances

[maybechickens]

Here's excerpts from another article:

[FONT=Arial,geneva,helvetica]February 20, 2013[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,geneva,helvetica]Section: Port Charlotte Herald[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,geneva,helvetica]"There's no law against keeping chickens in a residential neighborhood; it's not legal, either. Zoning codes prohibit agricultural animals on single-family residential property, and chickens are specifically mentioned under the agricultural section."

"Code enforcement activity is usually generated by a specific complaint, although that was not the case with Cornwall's chickens."

"Right now, the zoning code allows no leeway for residents who wish to contest violations about urban chicken keeping; the code enforcement board has to side with the zoning law. The law may be changing, however. The zoning department has been working on revamping the entire zoning code, a task that's been underway for a couple of years."[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,geneva,helvetica]"it's possible that a draft may be ready for citizen comment during the summer. So it's not too early, or too late, for residents to speak their mind about urban chicken keeping."[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,geneva,helvetica]"Students in local 4-H clubs, such as the Fur 'n Feathers Club, may raise urban chickens to sell at the county fair. Or they could choose to re-home the chickens to an agricultural zone. The key is to have a date set to either sell or re-home the chickens in question. The same holds true for science fair or homeschooling projects."

"Surprisingly, the county is also in the chicken-raising business. The sentinel chicken program runs during mosquito season and the county purchases about 75 chickens each year to monitor for contagious disease that can be spread by the water-loving insects."[/FONT]

 

[maybechickens]

Another reply from me today. I'm on a roll.

William, you mentioned you saw last fall in the Sun-Herald that chickens would be allowed. I believe you did, because I was at a local neighborhood meeting last December where it was told to us that (beginning January 1) chickens would be allowed.

Also, in the code from my original post in 2011 in this thread, poultry is defined as a domestic animal, same as dogs, cats, etc. According to that code (as far as I've gathered) if you get a complaint, your animal is impounded for 5 days and then you get it back after paying impound fees. I am wondering how they are enforcing that you must get rid of the animal.

I have never heard of using a 4-H or homeschooling project as the reason for keeping chickens until a certain date. I suppose we could do that and call it a long-long-long term project

 

[jilla]

Update: I now have 6 adorable baby chicks! I know..I know ... Illegally :-( I spoke to my neighbors and they are okay with it so I'm crossing my fingers I won't get any complaints. When I spoke to the county they did say they would be looking into revising the law this year so I'm hoping they will hurry up. Unfortunately, I can't keep all six chickens! I was only planning on three and a friend was takIng the other three because tractor supply only sells them in a minimum of 6 . My friend can no longer take them. Does anyone know someone in the area who would be interested ? A lot of people tell me Craigslist but I want to know they will be with someone who loves them as much as I do. Any information would help, thanks .

 

[jilla]

I forgot to mention they are 3 pullets, not sure on the breed. 2 are fluffy white/yellow and 1 is a very pretty red color. I'm guessing they are about 9 or 10 days old. Very sweet and friendly.

 

[maybechickens]

Hi jilla,

We would be interested! Which bin(s) did you buy from at Tractor Supply? The sexed mixed breeds one?

We are chickless as of yet but wanted at least 3. I am supposed to be in the newspaper today, in Nicole Noles' weekly column with comments about keeping chickens.

I will PM you my info.

Thanks!

 

[jilla]

Hi, the one bin said red pullets and the other bin I got the yellows from just said pullets. So supposedly yes they were sent from the hatchery sexed. You never know with tractor supply though. They kept giving me contradicting information about everything else. They are all very sweet, still a little shy but will eat from your hand readily. I will call tonight, thanks .

 

[happy harvester]

Hi all I'm glad to see I'm not the only 1 confused by Charlotte county chicken codes! I'm new to raising chickens and have been so hesitant because the fact I can be told they have to go after the investment and attachment! Is there a local group that meets?

 

[maybechickens]

Hi all I'm glad to see I'm not the only 1 confused by Charlotte county chicken codes! I'm new to raising chickens and have been so hesitant because the fact I can be told they have to go after the investment and attachment! Is there a local group that meets?

Hello and welcome

You're right, the codes are so different than what the county will tell you over the phone. I think they've realized the problem and for that reason (and other reasons) they're rewriting the codes over the summer.

I don't know of any local group, but if there's ever a county commissioners meeting with chickens on the agenda, or anything on the agenda that includes general public input for the code rewrite, we should group together. There's enough of us, plus those I know in my neighborhood and elsewhere at residential addresses in the county. I bet you all know a few "chicken-minded" people too.

I wasn't sure what you meant by this: "I can be told they have to go after the investment and attachment". Could you explain?

 

[happy harvester]

I've read on forums that people have been told they have 10 days to remove the chickens, I have already invested money and time into building supplies to start construction of a coop and run that would keep the chickens safe. And attachment, lol I am a sucker for animals.

 

[maybechickens]

Oh, I see now. Sorry I couldn't figure that one out on my own

What's funny is that I have seen residential people who own chickens and even with a complaint, they are left alone and can keep their hens. I believe one of them posted earlier in this thread. It's amazing to me that the code allows hens (see my original post for the link), but if you call the county they will say they don't, and yet some complaints lead to no change for the hens, while others require removal.

I would really like to get better informed if I am not perceiving this accurately, but so far that is what I have seen.