Help-Code Enforcement came by

[HannaLee]

I'm back from the council meeting. My husband and eight children all attended with me. We stayed through the whole thing. My speech went well enough (I think...) I was very nervous and it showed in my voice. I had called and spoke with all five councilmen and the mayor on Monday, so they knew the whole story. I did better over the phone, I think, than at the meeting. I spoke up the benefits of backyard chickens and addressed some possible concerns.

After the meeting the mayor and vice mayor came over to us and we shook hands and chatted a while. They were all very friendly and supportive. The vice mayor asked for some more information, which I will get to him in the next couple of days. The next council meeting is in two weeks. My husband said we will be there. Oh, and the local newspaper wants to do a story.

It looks very good for backyard chickens to be officially ok soon!

 

[Mark & Nique]

Thanks for sharing the news, HannaLee. It sounds like it went well! Your calling of the council members was a great idea.

I'm just curious, but what was the additional information they wanted?

 

[HannaLee]

He wants summaries of other cities codes to help draft ours. The information you guys have collected on this forum has been amazing! There's no way I could have gathered it by myself in a timely manner. This has all happened since last Friday!!

One of the council suggested at the meeting that since 2 cats and three dogs are already allowed, they simply change the code to allow five animal units. I am going to respectfully try to avoid that language. Five isn't enough, first of all, and then, technically, we'd not be able to have our two cats. It also doesn't address indoor animals like hamsters and goldfish.

I'm going to suggest a limit of 15, then compromise at 10.

Another suggestion would be to allow one hen per family member. I'd love to avoid setbacks, permits and coop measurement requirements, as they all invite inspection. I'd much prefer it simply allow them and that's that.

 

[Mark & Nique]

I don't know if you are familiar with this (http://www.findlaw.com/11stategov/index.html) or not; it is a link that provides state/local ordinances. When you find a town/city that allows backyard chickens, you can print out that section as an example. If you post a Q in this forum asking for folks where chickens are allowed to name their city/town, it would be a good shortcut.

(Minneapolis, MN, which is a major urban area, has an interesting ordinance that allows chickens, for example.)

 

[HannaLee]

freelancer79d posted the list I needed here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=375738

I also fond a great list at The City Chicken: http://home.centurytel.net/thecitychicken/chickenlaws.html

Because of their work, I can just go copy and paste!

 

[Mark & Nique]

Great! Keep us posted!

 

[dntd]

This is a good information report by Victoria BC, although it only is allowing for 4 we are asking for 6,also it go on about concerns and how to deal with waste. http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20100408/documents/penv3.pdf

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
With permits come the ability to say "no" without necessarily having a valid reason. If all other pets must be LICENSED, then I can see requiring a license, but not if it is only dogs.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
LOL Sonoran, funny you mention that, some of them do attempt to stay on.
THere was a local city council or school board member (next city over, so I don't remember which) who was recalled to active duty a few years ago, and refused to resign. I think he finally did after he had been away for nearly a year

I like my HOA board rules; must be a member to be on the board; must own property to be a member; if you miss three meetings in a row, the remaining board members can vote you out. I would prefer that the first portion was "resident" rather than member, though.

HannaLee how big is your lot?

Sometimes state law provides an out if your lot is big enough.

In case you haven't figured it out I like to stir pots.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
Here is a link for Tempe, AZ http://tempe.gov/zoning/ZDCode/ZDCpart3.pdf table 3-102 on page 3-4 and Section 3-404 on pages 3-23 to 3-25.

Here is the text relating to keeping chickens:

I. Small Animals. A number of small animals shall not be considered as an agricultural
use and are permitted in all residential districts which have a single-family dwelling,
subject to the following:

1. No more than five (5) small animals collectively are allowed on an individual lot;

2. No more than two (2) pot-bellied pigs are allowed on an individual lot and shall be
counted in the total allotment for small animals;

3. The keeping of roosters or peafowl is prohibited, except in the AG district; and

4. It shall be unlawful to keep small animals in a manner that constitutes a nuisance.

If you are lucky enough to live in the Ag district (I do), there is no limit on the number of birds allowed

BTW, nuisances are clearly defined in city code.​