Finally, Chickens are legal

[rspEhlers]

Did you get your permit based on being a part of a 4h program or a similar program? Or did you just apply for the permit to raise these hens for your personal use? Please clarify. Thank you.

 

[LittleMamaBigPapa]

I was smack in the middle of this debate and had a news crew at my house (following a city council meeting where I actually took one of my hens in a Pet carrier to prove how quiet they really are) lololol. Anyways, to clear up questions about the permit requirements for regular families keeping hens (NOT 4-H)...... Permits were only given to people who already had hens at the time the ordinance was rewritten, and I had to sign an affidavit swearing that I currently had hens as of a specific date before they would issue a permit to me. Anyone who got a permit after that small window of time must have gotten someone at the city who was new and didn't know what they were doing. I believe there was only a 90 day period following the new ordinance where we could apply for a permit. Permits have to be renewed every 5 years (and I'm sure they are hoping people forget to renew and lapse)!!!

Questions? Email me at [email protected]

Cathy

 

[La Granja Boricua]

Hello,

Do you still own chickens in Bellevue? My spouse and I are in Bellevue and are going through the process of getting our permit, buying a coop, and choosing where to get chicks from. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Steph

 

[Midnight Roost]

First time poster here, but wanted to resurrect this thread to look for advice.

I aslo live in Bellevue, NE and called today about getting a permit for backyard hens. Was told that I needed to be a part of a 4-H or similar program to quality for the permit. They pointed me to the section on the zoning ordinance that discusses it. I know a few in this thread got permits in Bellevue in then past year.

Did you have to get any sort of affadavit from an orgainization that you were working with, or has the city decided to change their interpretation of the zoning ordinance?

The text of the ordinance is below. The italicized part is what they reference. However, it seems to me that that provides an exeption to raise hens for 4-H regardless of the zoning district, not the specific guidance for single family dwellings.

Raising of hens, subject to the following conditions:
8.12.01 Any person who keeps hens in the City of Bellevue or its zoning jurisdiction shall obtain a permit from the City prior to acquiring the hens. Application shall be made to the Permits and Inspections Division and the fee for the permit shall be as determined by Council resolution.
8.12.02 Permits expire and become invalid five (5) years after the date of issuance. A person who wishes to continue keeping hens shall have obtained a new permit on or before the expiration date of the previous permit. Application for a new permit shall be pursuant to the procedures and requirements that are applicable at the time the person applies for a new permit to include a plot plan showing the building envelope in which the coop may be located.
8.12.03 Any person who, in any zoning district of the City of Bellevue, was keeping hens prior to March 1, 2011, may continue to keep hens, provided, that such person shall obtain the required permit
not later than November 1, 2011, and comply with the requirements for keeping or housing hens on his or her property as set forth herein. Such permit application shall include an affidavit signed by the applicant stating that the applicant was keeping hens on his or her property prior to March 1, 2011. (Ord. No. 3632, Sept. 12, 2011)

Persons in any zoning district of the City of Bellevue may keep hens on his/her property for the sole purpose of participating in livestock exhibitions such as 4-H or similar programs upon approval of a permit and in accordance with the provisions as set forth herein. (Ord. No. 3632, Sept. 12, 2011)

8.12.04 A person who keeps or houses hens on his or her property shall comply with all of the following requirements:
1. No more than 7 hens may be kept on any one zoning lot.
2. The principal use of the property shall be a single-family dwelling.
3. No person shall keep any rooster.
4. No person shall slaughter any hens.
5. The hens shall be provided with a covered enclosure and must be kept in the covered enclosure or a fenced enclosure at all times. Such covered enclosure or coop shall contain at least four square feet of floor area per hen, and the fenced enclosure shall provide at least ten square feet of open area per hen; no coop shall exceed 120 square feet of floor area or exceed 12 feet in height.
6. A person shall not keep hens in any location on the property other than in the rear yard. For purposes of this section, "rear yard" means that portion of a lot enclosed by the property's rear lot line and the side lot lines to the points where the side lot lines intersect with an imaginary line established by the rear of the dwelling and extending to the side lot lines.
7. No covered enclosure or fenced enclosure shall be located closer than 10 feet to any property line of an adjacent property.
8. All enclosures for the keeping of hens shall be so constructed or repaired as to prevent rats, mice, or other rodents from being harbored underneath, within, or within the walls of the enclosure. A covered enclosure or fenced enclosure shall not be located closer than 40 feet to any residential structure on another person’s property.
9. All feed and other items associated with the keeping of hens that are likely to attract or to become infested with or infected by rats, mice, or other rodents shall be protected so as to prevent rats, mice, or other rodents from gaining access to or coming into contact with them.
10. Eggs produced by permitted chickens may be sold by the permit holder.
11. If the above requirements are not complied with, the City may revoke any permit granted under this section and/or initiate prosecution for a civil infraction violation.


Any feedback from folks in the know would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks, Paul

There was another poster that commented being in this website would qualify as an exhibition? I am trying to figure that out myself as we look for a new home.