Getting the runaround in Sanford, Maine

[DollDoctor]

I live in NH right now but am planning to move to Sanford, ME and have inquired about keeping chickens in the town. The Town Code says they are allowed in the "compact area" of the town with a permit from the Town Council. I emailed two of the Town Councilors to find out what is required to get a permit, neither one answered me. I called the Town Administrator's office who referred me to the Code Enforcement office. The man there said that it was his understanding that chickens were not allowed "and that's what I tell people" but could not quote me any ordinance to back that up. When I told him about the language in the Town Code, he referred me back to the Town Administrator's office. They said I should write a snail mail letter to the Town Administrator. I did so, and outlined the whole story. After several weeks, he replied to say that the Zoning Ordinance only allows chickens in certain zones (the ones people don't live in, of course) and that the Zoning Ordinance trumps the Town Code. I searched through the Zoning Ordinance and the only references to chickens explicitly refer to keeping them for commercial purposes, even though I indicated to him that mine are pets. I have just written back to him to inquire if I missed the parts that forbid the keeping of chickens for non-commercial purposes, and if so, can he point them out to me.
Whew! Is this what all of you have gone through? I think the town has gotten away with just telling people "they aren't allowed" because nobody has challenged it. However, I want to move there and I want to keep my 6 Columbian Wyandotte pullets, so I'm not going to let it go. Any advice is appreciated.
Is there anybody else in Sanford, ME on this forum?

 

[NorTracNY]

I think you're doing exactly what you need to do. Unless they are explicitly not allowed, then you're ok. The problem is that people actually believe the individuals that run for a position are going to learn what rules exist. For everyone.... Remember that you can ask someone from the town a question, but the town is not responsible for their answer. If you don't like the run around, you could pay an attorney in the area to research the laws and give you their interpretation of the town code. That would most likely be the most accurate answer.

 

[cassie]

I learned long ago that what an official (any official) tells you what the law/ordinance is and what the law actually is, is more often than not, not the same thing. Sometimes it's not even close!!

 

[DollDoctor]

I got a reply from the Code Enforcement Officer last night: "If a use is not listed in the Table of Land Uses it is not allowed." This is so ludicrous I don't even know how to respond. So, in certain zones I can keep chickens for commercial use but not for personal use?? Come to think of it, no pets of any kind are mentioned in the Table of Land Uses. Does that mean all those dogs and cats out there are illegal?? Looks like I will be keeping my chickies under the radar until such time as they try to stop me - then a lawyer will be my first step.

 

[Big Chicken Little]

I would go apply in person for the permit and they will have fish or cut bait. Then you will know for sure have your permit or not and know your next move.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
Actually, disallowing uses that are not specifically mentioned is very, very common. Check to see if they have other ordinances that govern pets or animals in general. It may not be in the zoning code, but rather in City Code.

 

[fowler_chick]

ugh...having a summer house in the kennebunk beach i know some people in york county are quit snooty about having chicken's living beside them, if i were you i would sit down and have a meeting with shirley s (town code enforcer and animal control whom ever that might be) i'd also go in there armed with chicken info from let's say town's like wells, biddeford, kennebunk, ogunquit, kennebunkport, cape porpus, goose rocks, all town from the york county area, i would also talk to a code enforcer from portland city hall too, they were challange about 2 years ago by a young BYC-er who was able to get it changed in order to keep her few chickens in city limites.

trust me i'd rather be living next to a house with chickens then living next to fun town u.s.a!!!

 

[big greg barker]

There is a lady on here somewhere named Stacey Collins. She fought the city in South Portland. She can help you. Her email is [email protected] Send her an email, put "fighting city hall about chickens" in the subject line.
You could also consider Springvale if you are going to cross the border to Maine.........
Good luck.

 

[DollDoctor]

Thank you all for that info and support. I knew that Portland recently approved chickens so I will be in touch with Stacey if I do end up buying in a no-chicken zone.

 

[Bugga]

I am going to get some hens this spring. I still haven't get an answer from codes to see if they are allowed here. As far as the idiotic answers some may get from the town fathers isn't surprising. They are too wrapped up in spending tax payers money on their pet projects than to have concern of what one may want. They don't enforce any codes anyway so I might as well join the group of code breakers. Next they will want to have peoples cats chained to peoples yards. If I knew what direction this town was going in I never would have moved here.