Is This a Solid Ordinance?

[Chicken Shift]

Hi Guys, Newbie here...just jumping in with this one -

This is the only language in my local code relating at all to poultry. I bring it to you, the sages of BYC, for your interpretation. To me, the language is cloudy and not specifically prohibiting poultry. It seems to be excluding poultry from the term "cage birds" (pushing it, I know)

but pairing that cloudy language with the somewhat limited listing of permitted animals, would I have an argument in city Council?


Any person is permitted to maintain, keep or possess within the City , subject to the numerical limitations of § 72-32, any of the following animals, which classification shall be strictly construed:
Cage birds: (The term includes parakeets, parrots, canaries, finches, lovebirds, myna birds and other birds ordinarily kept in cages in households; it excludes wild birds captured or rescued and kept in cages, as well as poultry.)
Cats
Dogs
Ferrets
Frogs
Gerbils
Goldfish and carp
Guinea pigs
Hamsters
Lizards
Mice, white
Rabbits, restricted to European-type rabbits commonly kept as pets
Rats, white
Salamanders, any tailed amphibian
Snakes, nonpoisonous
Toads
Tropical fish, limited to those customarily maintained in a household aquarium, except piranhas
Turtles
Vietnamese pot bellied pig

 

[kelck22]

Basically chickens are not allowed "it excludes wild birds captured or rescued and kept in cages, as well as poultry"

You can keep any animal on that list, but the bird category does not include wild birds and chickens.

 

[Chicken Shift]

That's what I was afraid of. I was hoping the way it is worded would give me some wiggle room to argue with.

Its strange to me that they would not have a list of prohibited animals, though I guess that would be super long. I found noting in the codes about pigs, cows goats or any other kind of standard farm animals. This excerpt is literally the ONLY place animals are mentioned.

 

[kelck22]

The way it is worded, anything not listed is not allowed. Sorry you cant have chickens!