Chicken Ordinance in Chelsea Alabama

[diamondgrace]

Hello!!
I am hoping you all can help me change the Chelsea, Alabama ordinance. I was told 6 years ago that I could have 6 chickens per acre. My realtor had called as well. Now they are trying to say I cant simply because neighbor complained about a parrot that we keep indoors. We have an acre but they are subtracting our driveway and saying that we don't. Lots of ordinances are being broken in Chelsea. Im mad because they told us it was ok and also, I don't want to rehome my pet chickens. Are any of you in Chelsea, Alabama or can any of you point me in the right direction??
Thanks!
Kathy

 

[Acre4Me]

Good luck!

Have you tried posting in the “where am I, where are you” Forum on BYC? On the top if the forum, the “find your state thread” is pinned at the top. Go there and see if you get some more responses.

 

[JESS0125]

Hello!!
I am hoping you all can help me change the Chelsea, Alabama ordinance. I was told 6 years ago that I could have 6 chickens per acre. My realtor had called as well. Now they are trying to say I cant simply because neighbor complained about a parrot that we keep indoors. We have an acre but they are subtracting our driveway and saying that we don't. Lots of ordinances are being broken in Chelsea. Im mad because they told us it was ok and also, I don't want to rehome my pet chickens. Are any of you in Chelsea, Alabama or can any of you point me in the right direction??
Thanks!
Kathy

What did you end up doing? Chelsea is trying to pull the same thing on us. And we live in a place where there supposedly is no restrictions. Unincorporated Chelsea area

 

[Kiki]

What did you end up doing? Chelsea is trying to pull the same thing on us. And we live in a place where there supposedly is no restrictions. Unincorporated Chelsea area

Have you tried this site?
https://www.cityofchelsea.com/Search?searchPhrase=703 - ANIMAL CONTROL

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Start with your Statute. What does the Poultry Ordinance for the County actually say??? Most ordinances don't subtract hardscape or other improved square footage from the property area in determining the minimum space for a flock - but a rare few do.

So, again, start with the Statute.

Move on to any Administrative interpretations.

Then regroup, once you know what the law is (or has been interpreted to be, which for your purposes is functionally the same thing). Then you will be in better position to determine your next steps - fight the ticket as not applicable to your situation, seek a zoning variance, or get the ordinance changed entire.

Prepare for a long haul. Particularly as property values climb right now, many voters are unlikely to look kindly upon a change which they perceive will lower their property values or introduce new nuisance (noise, odor) into their lives, however ignorant those beliefs may be, those beliefs will direct their voting. Look at any election - "low information" is an apt descriptor of the average member of the electorate.