- Sep 20, 2011
- 6
- 0
- 7
Can anyone out there help clarify Michigan's Right to Farm Act and how it applies to local zoning ordinances. I have a copy of the animal code dated 2007 though I believe I picked it up from city hall in 2009 or 2010. The code states in reference to poultry "No person shall raise or keep game cocks within the City." also "Commercial chicken raising by batteries, etc., shall not be permitted."
So we went ahead and got 12 hens and converted our shed to a coop. The chickens have a large fenced in run but we also let them out to roam our fenced in backyard. Today we received a letter of violation from the city. They state the exact same code but they have it reading, "Live poultry and game birds shall not be owned within the City limits." They are giving us one week to remove them. Technically, 6 days since we got the letter the day after it is dated. Their stated code is not dated. I don't know when it was changed.
Here is my problem. If I say I am selling some eggs and put a sign out, am I protected from the zoning law by MRFA? Since I don't know when our local zoning law was changed. Or do I argue that I am not selling eggs and get the city to rescind the violation some how?
To tell the truth I wanted to sell eggs until we saw there was to be no commercial farming, so we figured we would give away what we didn't need to friends and neighbors. Now that I am aware of MRFA I am willing to sell eggs to my friends who have tried to offer me money for the eggs. Also, my hens are just now starting to lay. A few still aren't even producing regularly. What do I do?
So we went ahead and got 12 hens and converted our shed to a coop. The chickens have a large fenced in run but we also let them out to roam our fenced in backyard. Today we received a letter of violation from the city. They state the exact same code but they have it reading, "Live poultry and game birds shall not be owned within the City limits." They are giving us one week to remove them. Technically, 6 days since we got the letter the day after it is dated. Their stated code is not dated. I don't know when it was changed.
Here is my problem. If I say I am selling some eggs and put a sign out, am I protected from the zoning law by MRFA? Since I don't know when our local zoning law was changed. Or do I argue that I am not selling eggs and get the city to rescind the violation some how?
To tell the truth I wanted to sell eggs until we saw there was to be no commercial farming, so we figured we would give away what we didn't need to friends and neighbors. Now that I am aware of MRFA I am willing to sell eggs to my friends who have tried to offer me money for the eggs. Also, my hens are just now starting to lay. A few still aren't even producing regularly. What do I do?
