Do new laws over ride older ones?

[Greeks]

I live in a residential zone in Jenks Oklahoma. Just over 2 years ago I did some research on what laws applied to keeping chickens here. At that stage I found information on the Jenks City website that stated that if you have no roosters you are allowed to keep up to 6 hens in your back yard as long as their coop was at least 40 feet away from the closest neighbor. So that is what I did.

This week I received a letter from the city stating that it is illegal to have chickens in our zone and that I have to dismantle my coop and remove the chickens by July 10th.

Going back to the website, I cannot find any rules about the 6 hens being allowed, and for the life of me, I cannot find the printed pages that I had that confirmed that I could have them.

Is there a way to find out as I have been unsuccessful all morning today. Are there archived kept anywhere?

If they changed the law after I got them, do I still have to abide by it? or can I insist that I keep them seeing I got them before the laws changed?

I'm so frustrated at the moment. I have a daughter who shows these hens in 4-H shows, she's devastated that we have to get rid of her chickens.

Any help right now will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Efi

 

[sourland]

If indeed the previous law granted permission to have chickens, you should be 'grandfathered'. Proving the existence of this previous legislation is essential.

 

[Greeks]

Then I need to do some more digging. I even had my neighbor read it and confirmed that I understood correctly and she's a lawyer. She doesn't live there any more, I need to find her!

 

[AmpersatChick]

Surely the local government keep records of old laws. Or maybe your county extensions office would know about the changes, when they were made etc. Good luck!

 

[Greeks]

That's a good suggestion, now to figure out where to start looking. City hall I think will be my first stop.

 

[amenfarm]

As a general rule, I believe 4-H's are not held to the no chicken laws. Call your county extension office to check on that. If it's the chickens she shows.

 

[chfite]

Track down a copy of the law the city is citing to force the removal. Someone's interpretation of the law is not the same as the law as written. The written law is what matters.

As mentioned, 4H is sometimes exempt from such restrictions. See what the sage veterans at 4H can tell you.

Chris

 

[APetey]

Hi, I am just moving to Jenks. I am curious how this played out as I would like to get a few hens.

 

[Greeks]

I eventually had to move them. One of my neighbors put his house for sale and complained to the city about the chickens (he thought the chickens would make him lose a sale I guess). So once someone complains it's bye-bye chickens. I fought long and hard over the issue, and was super frustrated especially seeing the person that was trying to sell the house complaimed on the same day he put his house up for sale. He sold his house promptly but his complaint is what completely messed us up and we were given 10 days to move the chickens or have them confiscated and destroyed !!!!

Needless to say we moved them to a friends farm (so gracious of her to allow us to keep them there). We drive 14 miles every day of the year to the farm and feed our critters. A pain in the rear but at least this way my daughter can continue showing her chickens and we can still get eggs from them. I hope you have better luck then we did.

 

[ChaoSS]

Do you have the ordinances? I found this: http://www.jenks.com/sites/default/...ntable2 double sided 1inch both 6-17-13_1.pdf


Which says in effect up through june 17 2013 but I can't find anything newer than that. In there I don't see anything about roosters, 6 hens, or anything. Just the 40 feet from other property.


I do see something in there about the animals can't disturb the peace and quiet of other people, but then you could get most people for their dogs barking now and again too.