City of Princeton, IL pulls a FAST one.. . want opinions and ideas!

[Chicken Lil]

Three years ago I checked the ordinance for my town, Princeton IL, and NOTHING in the city codes prohibited having chickens in town. At the time the planning & zoning administrator said that since it wasn't expressly prohibited we could have are hens. Great, thought ok, and have had my hens every since. Most of our immediate neighbors enjoy our hens and get eggs from us on a regular basis! Less noise that the local kids and dogs make, and our hen house and yard is clean and does not smell.

So yesterday we got a letter from the planning & zoning administrator saying that the city attorney said that because the raising of chickens is NOT EXPRESSLY PERMITTED than it is not legal! We have been told to get rid of our hens by April 1st!

I have been reading the ciyt ordinances and have found the following. It is NOT EXPRESSLY PERMITTED to have a mailbox, to have lawn ornaments, to smoke in city streets, to have a fountain, or a garden in your yard! Are these things than PROHIBITED!!

I am moving forward and fighting this, and have spoken to a lawyer, and will also be contacting the ACLU on Monday for guidance, because I believe this is a violation of peoples freedom to say that anything not prohibited can be determined to be illegal.

If anyone has an ideas or opinions I would love to hear them.

Chicken Lil

 

[Judy]

I'm no lawyer but high school civics taught that's not legal. Good luck, bet you win this one.

 

[crj]

People have gone nuts with rules these days. Can't have this, can't do that, it's gotten stupid now. I would fight it too. Pretty soon you won't be allowed to do that either. The person who complained probably owns the grocery store and notice people weren't buying eggs lately. Good luck. I hope you keep your chickens. Gee, I would get a rooster just for poops and giggles.

 

[TomG]

Even if you lose your fight, you are a hero, to me, for fighting those nannies.

 

[Swampwood]

Illinois has the lowest IQ'd, most libtard, disgusting, crooked, low life politicians in the world.

Sorry, I'm a hater of the Ill upper crust.

.

 

[Teach97]

that is a new one...you have to be permitted to ahve it legal...wow

I am with ddawn...not sounding right.

My town went and made a code that you couldn't build anything that would house an animal within 20 ft of the property line or 100 feet of another home...so for the most part...homes with smaller lots can't have pets outside...I am waiting for my summons....

 

[Mac in Wisco]

I took a look at your city codes online.

You'll have to ask them about Sec. 10-251 "Poultry Running At Large", the very first sections under Animals in their city code.

In a nutshell, it says that you are required to keep your poultry yarded (to include chickens, turkeys, geese, and ducks) or else be found guilty for creating a public nuisance.

I wouldn't worry about a lawyer or the ACLU just yet. I'd go have a talk with with the administrator and the city attorney and point out to them what the city code actually says regarding poultry. Stand your ground. If they are stupid enough to take this any further, then contact your lawyer.

 

[Catstar68]

WOW. does it sat anything about wearing pants in public...that might be illegal, too.
Really, someone over there in your city gov needs to pull their head out of their....vortex of stupidity. mac in abilene made an excellent point. Seems to me poultry is allowed, just not allowed to run free. Once you win this (and you will) battle, they won't be happy to have been made to look stupid....they might change the laws. I'd watch them closely after this episode.

 

[hallerlake]

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[EweSheep]

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I agree!

And to the OP, fight it! Look it up and see if has something saying about poultry running at large. Those officials have nothing better to do and not well versed in the city laws or rules or ordiances.