Here we go, Code Enforcement's coming

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Folks, I know that you don't like the code enforcement officer. But they are doing their job. It is not their job to fix the economy or fix gas prices any more than it would be the job of the person who gives tickets to illegally parked cars. It is their job to respond to citizen complaints and to enforce local code law. I would be more angry if they were applying code selectively; i.e. overlooking your chickens because they are cute but making me cut down my grass.

If your flock is against code, then they are doing their jobs. They have no say about what the law is, they just enforce it. If you want to change the law, then you must talk to your elected representatives who make the codes that the enforcement officer enforces.

Your situation is difficult, and I think that your best bet is to get a variance and/or get the law changed. You have my deepest sympathy; I wouldn't want to be in your situation. Be sure to let us know how everything turns out.

Erika

 

[FloridaChickenChick]

The OP was on 5/25. I think if Code Enforcement was coming, they'd be there by now. I hope all the worry was for nothing and that your chickens are happy at home!

 

[playmeasong]

HI ALL!

I wanted to bump this up and give you a little update. To my knowledge, CE hasn't been back, and if they did come around, they'd fine 4 beautiful hens in the back yard. My coop and pen arrived this weekend, adapted from a plan on the coop section of this site. It's a tractor style coop and I could move it around the yard if I wanted to minimize breakdown of the grass.

It sits lovely, under a very full cherry tree, and it is mostly obscured from the neighbors view, except for one. They're wonderful patient ones, and after speaking with them, they seem fine with me keeping them quietly.

I know some here aren't in favor of what I'm doing, yet I believe that we have unalienable rights as citizens...right to bear arms, right to vote, right to posess animals that aren't impeding or inconveniencing our neighbors...so I will press on and pray our township isn't coming around anymore.

Jen, rebel, pacifist, animal lover...time to change my profile since my babies are now little hens...

 

[Reinbeau]

Go for it, playmeasong, if you're not bothering anyone then they shouldn't be complaining.

 

[SeaChick]

That's good news, playmeasong! I hope that you'll have no problems with your neighbors or town. We're here for you if you do, though!

Have fun with your hens!
Stacey

 

[amyquilt]

Good Gosh! Requiring 5 acres is just plain stupid! I can see that for 4 legged farm animals...but chickens WTH??!!

We live in the *country*, but just moved here 2 months ago. BUT even in the city limits of Amarillo, you are allowed to have chickens. You must have 1/4 acre and on 1/4 acre you can have up to 4 birds. IMO, that's a very fair law.

 

[bamagirl68]

Thank goodness for the country! I just could not live in town. Best of luck playmeasong!

 

[Acre of Blessings]

playmysong--can you start a petition to change the law for chickens?

I only have 1.2 acres and its A-1 Ag listed and I was told by the dept. that I could have 50 head of cattle on my property as long as I fed them. Of course I am not going to do this but I am gonna get a milk cow, a couple of sheep to mow the yard, and a donkey or shetland pony.
Been thinking of a hog but we will just buy one and slaughter it. OOOps got off the topic. Try taking up the petition and take it to the town cousel and see if you can get the law changed. Also, check to see if they consider chickens to be livestock, I have heard that some places don't.
Many blessing and

 

[dacjohns]

Just my observation on different defintions.

In this thread calling chickens livestock is not advantageous because of local ordinances restricting livestock.

In other threads you want your chickens to be livestock so you can protect them from predators.

I can see a little urban versus rural settings but we want it both ways. The more picky we get the more restrictive the laws get.

 

[Homegroanacres]

Quote:
I am sure I am not going to make many friends with this,

You are correct, we have all of that.

but we also have the
responsibility to follow the laws of the land.

otherwise all
we will have is chaos.

John