Hey everyone! Restricitive covenant grey areas ...

[OZZZ]

Hi Everyone, I live in northern arizona, way up 7,000' in the mountains. We get -20 degree nights as our extreme lows (more commonly doesnt drop below zero) and our highs in summer top out around 90 degrees (more commonly mid 80's).

I have a half acre of land and unfortunately an HOA. Im wanting to get a trio of meat rabbits and six laying hens, was hoping to free range the chickens during the day in my back yard (6' privacy fence).

My HOA restrictive covenants read as follows:

"No Animals, reptiles, fish or birds of any kind shall be raised, bred or kept on any lot; provided however, that a reasonable number of dogs, cats, fish or birds may be kept on a lot as household pets if such pets are not a nuisance or threat to other lot owners and are not kept, bred or maintained for commercial purposes."

Several terms to consider "reasonable number","are not kept, bred, or maintained for commerical purposes".

Sounds to me like we can have a "reasonable number" of chickens kept as "household pets", "If such pets are not a nuisance or threat" and are "not kept, bred, or maintained for commercial purposes."

????

There is no other section addressing the topic anywhere.

Im thinking its a go! lol ... whats your impressions??

I realize the obvious answer is call them and ask, but I have a feeling they might interperate that vague paragraph differently from me

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

Yes, it does sound like you might be able to keep a few chickens. Of course a call to them is the easiest thing to do. But before you do call, go armed with information about chickens. Make sure you are able to stand your ground on how quiet they can be, how there is no smell as long as you keep it clean, how you can build them a run to keep them contained, how you won't keep roosters, etc...

You might start in our learning center. There are lots of good articles on keeping and raising poultry, along with getting started that might help with this greatly...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center

Good luck and I hope you can keep some birds soon!

 

[sourland]

I'd go for an opinion - stating your case logically and unemotionally. People can be petty, and I would be concerned about neighbors stirring up things. Good luck.

 

[Michael OShay]

Welcome to BYC! TwoCrows has given you a good thread to check out. It seems to me that there are probably enough loopholes in your HOA restrictive covenants to get some chickens and rabbits, if you proceed cautiously and logically. Good luck.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Good luck with your endeavor, hope your HOA is reasonable.

 

[drumstick diva]

Tiny seramas make great house chickens. Once they get going ,their eggs end up a decent size for such small hens. Someone might mistake them for a parrot. Silkies are also good and most people seeing them think they are little foo foo dogs.