Many thanks for the reply. Well I visited Ms. Lang and she indicated that it was a "land use and zoning question". She then put on the Zoning officer hat and said that she was in fact the zoning officer as well as the Major elect. Just kidding there. At any rate, she did send me pretty promptly to the zoning folks as she said they were "Farm Animals". I countered that they were in fact pets and were not farm animals. She followed that our township considered them fowl and were therefore farm animals. I then went to the zoning office where despite carefully describing the little ladies as pets, the zoning officer said they were fowl and therefore subject to our township Prohibited Uses:
"140-140 Prohibited uses.
(27) Keeping or raising of horses or other similar animals or farming as defined in this chapter on lots comprised of less than five acres." I found it here: http://ecode360.com/9589237
I mentioned that I knew others with back yard chickens in our township and she actually tried to get me to identify them and where they lived. My obvious answer there was "no".
This all seems so insane to me. I then asked regarding changes to statute. She then handed me a lengthy variance application and made clear that the process would be long, expensive, and not likely worth it. Not sure where to go from here as $1k in fees is not an effort I can undertake.
Sorry to resurrect this old thread...but I was wondering if you pursued this any further? We just moved to Wall (Allenwood to be exact) this past June, and we've always wanted a small backyard flock. I'm well aware of the current ordinance, and it makes me sad.
