Chicken Coop in violation.

[Going Quackers]

I made the mistake of assuming the governing authority shouldn't/wouldn't worry about what we're building on our own property (or in-laws in this case). I thought, being a Police Officer myself, I could decipher the pertinent city ordinances on my own. Now, after reading the sections highlighted (which are hard to find) by the Code Compliance guy it looks like a permit is required at twice the normal cost (cause the building has already started) and either the roof has to be about a foot and a half lower (which would ruin the entire plan for a well ventilated coop) or it has to move about thirty feet.

I see, it can be massively complicated. I grew up in town, i recall the hoops that needed to be jumped when the family installed a pool. Good luck, sounds like you have a challenge ahead of you.