Legal in city illegal in HOA.

[The Phantom]

Where in Wisconsin are you?

 

[joeyg4583]

Ok so here is an email I drafted to the president of the board (one of my neighbors).
Hey Brian!
This is Sherina from lot 1. The City of Cedarburg recently recognized the benefits of backyard chickens and changed the city laws to allow 4 hens (No roosters) per yard in the city. Before we moved here to take care of my grandparents I kept chickens both in our Colorado suburban neighborhood and our Florida rural one. I absolutely adored “my girls” and truly miss them. They were beloved pets. In addition we (and the neighbors we shared with) loved the fresh eggs. I would love to submit a proposal on keeping up to 4 hens. Is this something that you and the board would be willing to hear about? What questions or concerns can I discuss with you? I know the request seems strange but I can assure you that my proposal will take into account consideration of visual appeal of the neighborhood and respect for the neighbors.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Sherina

Sent from my iPhone

 

[joeyg4583]

Our Hoa only consists of 11 houses.

 

[joeyg4583]

Where in Wisconsin are you?

Cedarburg

 

[Hopperkiller]

Calling them "pets" doesn't change the fact that they're poultry. You can call your dog your "child" but you still can't legally write it off as a dependent when tax time comes around.

This would be correct! When checking and rules remember that case law set the interpretations of the statutes and ordinances. HOA is just a sub government that people willingly join and they enforce by civil statutes. Its bad enough living in a city limits without adding more restrictions and expense to living. In texas people are being forced to sell and move when HOA wins the suit. Getting a few chickens could end with a few thousand lost dollars. Now that you approached them you have alerted them to watch out.

Only chance is to study how to change HOA rules and follow it to the letter.

 

[joeyg4583]

I haven’t approached them yet and I don’t have any chickens. I just desperately want some

 

[Hopperkiller]

I haven’t approached them yet and I don’t have any chickens. I just desperately want some

Then check on how to change the rules and build a plan B before sending it.

So approaching them is a bad idea? Any other ideas or suggestions? I’d like to at least try to make this work

plan a is approach but have plan b because most likely they will hold up the rules. I worked in govt agency and saw policies that were poor. Before approach i got all my ducks in a row because "no" is 99 % the first answer so i had a plan be to use the policies to change them some took quite a while. Talk to neighbors about the new city ordinance and their views on it. Have all the answers to the objections prior to your pitch. Be better prepar3d than the opposition. You are trying to sell them an idea that was nixed before you arrived.

 

[joeyg4583]

Any thoughts on the draft and what I should change/add/remove?

 

[joeyg4583]

I’ll work on that.

Then check on how to change the rules and build a plan B before sending it.

plan a is approach but have plan b because most likely they will hold up the rules. I worked in govt agency and saw policies that were poor. Before approach i got all my ducks in a row because "no" is 99 % the first answer so i had a plan be to use the policies to change them some took quite a while. Talk to neighbors about the new city ordinance and their views on it. Have all the answers to the objections prior to your pitch. Be better prepar3d than the opposition. You are trying to sell them an idea that was nixed before you arrived.

 

[wyoDreamer]

Chickens are noisy. Neighbors will know you have them.
If you do decide to get them against the rules, be prepared to be told to get rid of them when someone complains.
Your best bet is to get the rule changed, but I really doubt that will happen. My experience has shown that there is always someone in the HOA who likes the restrictions and rules, and will not want to have "livestock" dragging down the property values.