Just got an enforcement notice

[Katelee]

So we have had chickens for 3 years no problems. Today I received an enforcement notice that the keeping of poultry or fowl is prohibited unless the poultry or fowl are accessory uses to a permitted agricultural use.

What does that mean? I know that my neighbors are fine, they all eat our eggs for free and bring the girls treats. My daughters are devastated. I am a mess. We have chickens and ducks but the enforcement notices only says chickens. We have 7 days.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[chitown chicks]

Wish I could offer some advice or assistance.
Just wanted to send you and your girls (((hugs))).

GL!

 

[Katelee]

thank you... we are so very upset right now

 

[chitown chicks]

I'm sure someone will have some advice in the coming days.
I'll keep watching here so please keep us updated.

 

[California_chickie]

So we have had chickens for 3 years no problems. Today I received an enforcement notice that the keeping of poultry or fowl is prohibited unless the poultry or fowl are accessory uses to a permitted agricultural use.

What does that mean? I know that my neighbors are fine, they all eat our eggs for free and bring the girls treats. My daughters are devastated. I am a mess. We have chickens and ducks but the enforcement notices only says chickens. We have 7 days.

Any help is appreciated.

How stressful! I have had "chicken issues" myself that came out of nowhere & was devastating to deal with.

Just off hand, how difficult would it be for you to get an ag permit? I'm not sure how many chickens you have, but if you contacted a sympathetic county clerk or officer you might be able to obtain a permit. I am assuming you are not a hatchery, and you only have a few birds, but you might be able to claim you are participating in ag education programs (4-H or school groups) and use the chickens for that purpose. In my opinion, is not technically a "lie" but you aren't in the chicken business, so it's stretching the truth a bit---but if you want to keep your chickens & ducks, you might have to do that.

I had to donate some of my birds (went over the limit of 6 in our county) and the original person who complained (my landlord) was much more sympathetic towards me once she found out I had donated the extra birds to school kids to be used a therapy birds. Kinda strange how her reaction changed when she saw how the birds were impacting the community in a positive way.

It sounds to me like someone complained, or you just got unlucky & someone, somehow spotted your birds and wants to bring the law down on you. I would talk to your neighbors, and possibly even get them to write a letter (or sign one) stating how much they enjoy the birds & that they are not a nuisance. Just checking in and chatting with your neighbors might shed some light on the subject.

I hope everything works out, and I'm sorry you have to deal with this!

 

[thatchickenlady]

That is a terrible thing to have happen to you. I would ask for a 30 day hardship extension on the enforcement notice to start with to give you more time to figure out what to do. What CA_chickie says sounds like something worth considering. Also, go to the next community council meeting and tell them about the good keeping chickens does and try to get them on your side and ask for a recommendation to the city for keeping chickens. Then go to the town or city council and speak out against the ordinance!

 

[tariqjawed83]

I just don't understand, what is wrong with these people! why they hate chickens particularly, someone said to me once, because they poop!

On my, so it means that the dog, cat, horse or cow doesn't poop; even horse **** is famous of them all, even in country they don't have any problems with horses and cows, but they have problems with chickens.

anybody has some good reasons?

Thanks

 

[chitown chicks]

OP, just checking in after a few days without internet (we moved).

 

[mynamesjenelle]

Where are you located? Was the enforcement notice from the city, the county, or an HOA? Maybe some of the forum sleuths can check it out and see if this is actually something that can be enforced. When I was doing research to see if we could have chickens, I did find something that says if you can prove that you have had chickens for a long time that you can be grandfathered in. Whether three years is considered a 'long time' is probably up to the judge or whoever is handling your case, but it might be helpful if you can prove how long you have had them without issue.

 

[traildad]

So we have had chickens for 3 years no problems.  Today I received an enforcement notice that the keeping of poultry or fowl is prohibited unless the poultry or fowl are accessory uses to a permitted agricultural use. 


What does that mean?  I know that my neighbors are fine, they all eat our eggs for free and bring the girls treats.  My daughters are devastated.  I am a mess.  We have chickens and ducks but the enforcement notices only says chickens.  We have 7 days.


Any help is appreciated. 

Google your town and state name and the terms city or municipal ordinances. It is common to find them online. Determine what your zoning is and read the ordinances that apply to you. If you can search the ordinances try searching the word chicken to see what codes apply in general. If the notice has any code numbers or names you can look it up to see if the code they used does apply to you.