Hello!
So I am new to BYC, and new to chickens, although I have wanted to have a small backyard flock for a while. I recently moved back to Houston,TX (hopefully for the long haul), and started investigate the local laws regarding family flocks in the city. I quickly realized (like most hen-loving Houstonians) that the rules are not friendly to our feathered friends:
-30 roos or hens on a lot 65x125 or smaller, or a larger number as long as the 30:8125 sqft ratio is preserved
-pen must be 100ft from a private residence not owned by the flock keeper (no clause for your neighbors to waiver these distance restrictions)
-7 with a health permit and doctors note for a medical condition which requires unfertilized eggs
from the Chapter on Animals, Article 2 Sections 6.31-6.39
library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=1023
While initially the ordinance seems generous (30 roosters? wow!), the distance restrictions make it functionally impossible to keep chickens legally in the city. (I haven't met anyone who has managed to qualify for the medical permit.) There are also some other oddities in the code, which seems to prohibit composting. I had heard about an exotic animal exception that might allow chickens, but I couldn't find anything in the rules about it.
But despite the unfortunate nature of our code, there are many cities which have rewritten their ordinances. It seems even West U has tried, and our neighbor Alvin has really reasonable laws. New York City even seems to have a leg up on us. So why not Houston? We are the best city in the world!
Don't we deserve to raise chickens too?
I've started doing research on how to legalize chickens in Houston. I think it's a worthy cause, although it will take time, energy, people and muddling. But wouldn't it be great to finally not have to worry about our Hen-riettas being impounded?
If there is a legalize chickens movement in Houston already, I want to join it! If not, let's start it! Today!
So I am new to BYC, and new to chickens, although I have wanted to have a small backyard flock for a while. I recently moved back to Houston,TX (hopefully for the long haul), and started investigate the local laws regarding family flocks in the city. I quickly realized (like most hen-loving Houstonians) that the rules are not friendly to our feathered friends:
-30 roos or hens on a lot 65x125 or smaller, or a larger number as long as the 30:8125 sqft ratio is preserved
-pen must be 100ft from a private residence not owned by the flock keeper (no clause for your neighbors to waiver these distance restrictions)
-7 with a health permit and doctors note for a medical condition which requires unfertilized eggs
from the Chapter on Animals, Article 2 Sections 6.31-6.39
library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=1023
While initially the ordinance seems generous (30 roosters? wow!), the distance restrictions make it functionally impossible to keep chickens legally in the city. (I haven't met anyone who has managed to qualify for the medical permit.) There are also some other oddities in the code, which seems to prohibit composting. I had heard about an exotic animal exception that might allow chickens, but I couldn't find anything in the rules about it.
But despite the unfortunate nature of our code, there are many cities which have rewritten their ordinances. It seems even West U has tried, and our neighbor Alvin has really reasonable laws. New York City even seems to have a leg up on us. So why not Houston? We are the best city in the world!
Don't we deserve to raise chickens too?I've started doing research on how to legalize chickens in Houston. I think it's a worthy cause, although it will take time, energy, people and muddling. But wouldn't it be great to finally not have to worry about our Hen-riettas being impounded?
If there is a legalize chickens movement in Houston already, I want to join it! If not, let's start it! Today!
