HOA wording

[Lesleyd]

Hello! My husband and I are ready to build our coop and get some chickens after a lot of research, but are hung up on our HOA's covenants. The part in question reads:

Property owners shall restrict all pets within the owners' property at all times except when on a leash under the owners' control. No animals or fowl shall be kept or maintained except bond-fixed domestic pets provided they are not kept, bred, or maintained for commercial purpose.

Would it be a safe argument that the 3 or 4 hens we would like to have could be considered family pets? Are chickens even considered domestic pets? Anyone else run up against wording like this and had any luck?

Thanks for the help!

 

[TheSitcomGirls]

I would say no, chickens not pets. Our town considers them in the "livestock" category. I would say before you do it call and ask. That way you won't have to get rid of them... that would stink!

 

[Wxguru]

Unfortunately Fowl gets you here...and they aren't considered domestic pets...they fall under poultry/livestock classes.

 

[dekel18042]

Hello! My husband and I are ready to build our coop and get some chickens after a lot of research, but are hung up on our HOA's covenants. The part in question reads:

Property owners shall restrict all pets within the owners' property at all times except when on a leash under the owners' control. No animals or fowl shall be kept or maintained except bond-fixed domestic pets provided they are not kept, bred, or maintained for commercial purpose.

Would it be a safe argument that the 3 or 4 hens we would like to have could be considered family pets? Are chickens even considered domestic pets? Anyone else run up against wording like this and had any luck?

Thanks for the help!

You could always call and ask. If you get an answer in the affirmative make sure you get the person's name, title, and all pertinent information.
That said, what kind of chickens are you looking to get? Even if they argue chickens are livestock, I think you could make a good case for bantams being pets. They're so tiny. You certainly aren't raising them to eat and even the eggs are small. But I would want a yes before I got them. I'd hater to get them and have to get rid of them.
If you lived close I'd let you borrow one of ours. I've had larger parrots.

 

[curtisbirds]

My personal interpretation of your hoa rule is no you can not have chickens because of the statement of bond fixed domestic, but calling is the best route in my opinion, with any approval given in writing to clear up any future possible disagreements.