Update: Poultry, bees, and minature livestock are now legal in Hillsboro! I was there on Thursday morning, the first day they were legal, and got permit #1!
I will be going back in a week or so and amending the permit so I can get approval for a hive or two of bees. I've been reading up on them and want to add this to my semi self-sufficiency plans.
The ordinance information can be found here:
http://www.ci.hillsboro.or.us/Planning/AnimalRegulations/CityAnimalRegulations.aspx
Because I got there before they had the information posted online, I wasn't expecting to have to draw a map but it was no big deal since it didn't have to be to scale (humm - just looked at the online information and it says 'to scale' - looks like they gave me a break). They looked up the tax lot number and the dimensions of my lot for me.
Several points: You need a building permit for "any structure which is 200 square feet or larger and/or taller than six feet in height" and the run must be at least 20 square feet per bird. The bee permit requires a separate $25 fee as they print out labels for notices you must send to neighbors within 300 feet (then wait 2 weeks) before you can get a bee permit. And the animal restrictions are:
7,000 to 10,000 sq. ft.
3 poultry, bees but no livestock
Over 10,000 sq. ft. to 1 acre in area
6 poultry, bees, and up to 2 minature livestock
Over 1 acre or larger in area
9 poultry, bees, and up to 2 minature livestock
Prohibited:
Peacocks, Peahens, Roosters, Geese, Turkeys, Male Poultry, uncastrated male livestock
Ruth and Dan did an awesome job on this project and deserve a lot of credit.
The ordinance almost required a 10,000 square foot lot which would have excluded me. I'm glad the councilors reverted back to what Ruth and Dan initially proposed though I wish it would have gone down to at least 5000 square feet.
I'm SO happy!
