Contra Costa Ordinances?

[imh]

Hello-
I'm having trouble finding out what the ordinances are for my area - a lot of my neighbors have chickens, but I haven't heard any roosters. One of my babies is turning out to be a cockerel, and I'm afraid I may have to give him away, so I'm trying to find as much information as I can about what is allowed. I called animal control and they said that chickens are not "household pets" and are therefore not allowed in Residential zoned areas at all. I've also looked up ordinances online, but can't find anything specific. I have seen "crowing" listed as a noise nuisance, so that may be my answer right there. Does anyone from Contra Costa County know what the laws are? I live in an unincorporated area, zoned "R-7" for whatever that is worth.
Thanks!!

 

[ADozenGirlz]

Quote:
Have you looked at your Zoning Ordinances? They're often online. But it sounds like roosters would be out of the question even if hens are allowed on your area given what you said about your noise ordinance. You could inquire at the police department b/c they're the ones who would likely have to enforce a noise violation complaint.

 

[imh]

Good idea - I will check, thanks!

 

[PetRock]

I would be interested in knowing what you find out. We currently live in Contra Costa county in Antioch and are allowed to have 10 chickens. There is no mention of roosters in the city ordinances but we do have a noise ordinance. Someone in our neighborhood has a rooster because we can hear him crowing but we are going to stick with hens only. Two of the towns around us do not allow chickens at all (Pittsburg and Brentwood) but I know that there are still quite a few people in Pittsburg at least who have chickens. The feedstore that we go to is in Brentwood but outside the city limits.

 

[michickenwrangler]

My brother lives in Walnut Creek. He constantly complains about how liberal everything is, so if that's an indication ... chickens are allowed. Cities that he complains as "liberal" tend to allow chickens--Portland, Ann Arbor, Bay City

 

[mrmixon]

I have been wondering about local ordinances myself. When living in Brentwood years ago myself and all of my neighbors (off of Lone Tree) had chickens and ROOSTERS. I kept Rhode Island Reds, my next door neighbor kept White Leg Horns.

I now live in Pittsburg and a neighbor obtained 1 Rooster and 3 Hens and the actual police were at his house 2 days later. Needless to say no one in this neighborhood have any chickens.

I am willing to sell my house just to have a place of which I can raise chickens and ROOSTERS. What cities are matter of fact in regards to ALLOWING Roosters?

Thanks all.

 

[Jon Botelho]

Roosters don't belong in any of the Bay Area towns, no matter what the laws say. If you disagree, poll your neighbors
Most people don't realize that hens don't need roosters in order to lay eggs, just to lay fertile eggs. Easier to skip the rooster and get chicks at the feed store. And no matter what the feed store says, you're likely to get some male chicks in a batch of 'females' so be prepared to eat them or ??. Many shelters are overrun with roosters from newbie poultry parents and don't have room for any more.

 

[ivan3]

Roosters don't belong in any of the Bay Area towns, no matter what the laws say. If you disagree, poll your neighbors
Most people don't realize that hens don't need roosters in order to lay eggs, just to lay fertile eggs. Easier to skip the rooster and get chicks at the feed store. And no matter what the feed store says, you're likely to get some male chicks in a batch of 'females' so be prepared to eat them or ??. Many shelters are overrun with roosters from newbie poultry parents and don't have room for any more.

When the City of Concord (Contra Costa County) was updating their `noise' ordinance, they had a fairly thorough report prepared. You might find it useful/interesting.

http://www.cityofconcord.org/pdf/citygov/agendas/council/2009/0105/4B.pdf

Decibel Meters are pretty inexpensive (probably plenty of smart phone apps for that). Best to have some objective data to present, e.g., are the roosters louder than a Harley being kicked into `life' at the same distance?