Help with zoning in MD

[Mariamerc3]

Has anyone successfully appealed a backyard chicken zoning citation in Howard County, MD? We just received a letter. Our lot is 1000 sq feet too small! That seems negligible! We have eight pet hens and no intention of giving them up without a fight. Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[Acre4Me]

Has anyone successfully appealed a backyard chicken zoning citation in Howard County, MD? We just received a letter. Our lot is 1000 sq feet too small! That seems negligible! We have eight pet hens and no intention of giving them up without a fight. Any advice would be appreciated!

no personal experience here. However, when did the ordinance go into effect? When did you get chickens? If one preceded the other, you may be able to ask to be grandfathered in. If your chicken keeping pre-dates the ordinance then you may need to prove it.

did the ordinance change at some point, was it new?

what do surrounding areas have for ordinances? How does the one over you compare to surrounding areas? Is your ordinance more restrictive or generous?

Good luck.