I hate covenants!!!

[GoodCluck]

Hello Everybody. I'm pretty new around here and I have a question regarding neighborhood covenants...

I live in a rural part of Washington State, and according to county code I can have chickens...however, I've read through the covenants for our community and they are sort of vague...

Here's what it says: "No animal shall be kept or permitted on the property except household pets. Which shall not interfer with the use and enjoyment of any neighboring lot." There is no mention of chickens/poultry etc.

My neighbors on each side of me have given me their blessing to go ahead and get chickens. And there are at least two others in our community that *quietly* have owned chickens (no roosters) for 1-3 years.

Anyways, based off the wording of the covenants, is it safe for me to set up a chicken house/run for 5-10 hens?

Thoughts?

 

[GoodCluck]

I've looked into changing the covenants. But I would need signatures from 75% of the 400+ property owners!!! This would be difficult because some of the properties are rentals and who knows where the owners are!!!

 

[Mark's Menagerie]

Quote:
The keys words in the above are "No animal except household pets".

Now I have heard of some chickens being kept as household pets, but most (if not all) municipalities consider chickens livestock, so I wouldnt expect your neighborhood association to treat them as anything but livestock... which is probably why the covenent was put in place to begin with...

My quess is you'll have to skip the chickens, or have them 'quietly' and be prepared to give them up if someone complains.

Of course if there are currently people with chickens and someone gives you grief you may have a shot at getting the convenent tossed out if you get a lawyer, since it would be clear that exceptions have been made in the past, thereby making the covenent void the first time it happened and was not enforced.

 

[MissJenny]

Here's the thing about rules... other people in your neighborhood have chickens -- the more people in your neihgborhood who have chickens (you) the rule gets smaller and smaller and smaller. It's practically your civic duty to get chicks -- especially since your neighbors have given their blessing.

But I'm like that -- in the nicest possible way

Jenny

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

If others have had chickens in hte neighborhood and nothing was done to enforce a resrtiction against them, the association (assuming that there is one) has probably lost its legal right to enforce against you. That said, the wording is vague, and if you make a point of keeping your birds in the same manner in which you would keep a pet, then you are probably covered. So, no meat birds or commercial egg production. Make sure your coop is very attractive--might even consider starting with a large rabbit hutch or dog house. Name your birds, and refer to them by name. Get attractive birds and keep them healthy and happy. Go outside and watch them while you rela in hte evening. Have your kids play with them: a baby doll stroller, doll clothes and a stroll around the neighborhood with a dressed up young pullet would go far towards making it known that these are pets.

 

[the lone rhubarb]

Yea I think that you should get some and just be careful!! If theyr not causing trouble
then no one will have a reason to complain.

The Chiken Luvver,
Rhubarb

 

[Danaus29]

Hello GoodCluck, the truth is no, you can't have any animals other than a dog or cat. I'm going through something similar now. Everyone around here has or did have livestock of some kind in the 20 years we have owned this house. People just across the ditch from us have horses. I have had ducks for just a few months shy of 8 years here. No problem. Zoning ignored them, neighbors love them, Board of Health gave them a green light and said they were very well cared for. Poof! One little complaint and now they have to go.

And for those who say I should have known they were not legal, I did ask and was told poultry was legal here. What I was not told is they are legal until someone complains. Now I am attached and more than a little upset. I know who did it too.

 

[underground chickenman]

If neighbors on either side are okay with it, you are in the clear unless you get roosters. With hens, nobody two doors down is going to know. Trust me, I am an expert at hiding chickens.

UGCM

 

[Mervin]

Since there are others who have them and your immediate neighbors are cool with it, go for it. Just keep it somewhat discreet.
Remember...Many times it is far easier to beg forgiveness then ask for permission.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Okay, I have a problem with reading things into the rules based upon different regulations in differnt locations. I can make a HUGE case, based upon personal eperience, that roosters tend to be better pets than hens. The "letter" of the restrictions is important; as much or more than the intention. When the language is vague, different courts would interpret differently. But. Generally it is incumbant upon the accusor to show "guilt." In other words, the person complaining would have to prove that your birds are livestock and not pets.