Loveland CO

[cackleberryandco]

Does anyone know what the laws are for Loveland CO? I’m a college student living at home and I’m thinking of plans for the future.

I am currently in school majoring in animal science and am looking to go to veterinary school, I am assuming my chickens will be gone by the time I am done with school but I am looking to continue with chickens when I move. Loveland seems good for me but I am just wondering, do they have a max number on hens? Roosters allowed? Permit required? What is the criteria? I try to look things up but a lot of it confuses me and I figure I would ask someone who is better equipped for reading the ordinances. I know I have a few years and things may change but I would like some peace of mind now. Thank you!

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Start with their Code of Ordinances

Start doing keyword searches. Begin with Poultry. Not helpful. Move to Fowl. Better.
This Definition tells us the code uses chickens, ducks, domesticated fowl, and calls them all "Livestock"

Now let's go to the section, "Limitations on Livestock"

2.

Chickens, ducks, geese and other domesticated fowl are permitted subject to the numerical limitations in Section 6.28.010.

Well, that's circular. Section 6.28.010 says...

No person shall keep, house or maintain in or upon the premises of any residential dwelling unit more pet animals than can be properly maintained in a healthy condition without presenting a health or safety hazard to the owner or keeper, to the pets, or to any others or more pet animals than can be properly maintained without constituting a nuisance to the occupants of neighboring properties.

So your ability to keep chickens is largely at the discretion of your neighbors - because nuisance is "vaguespeak". This allows them to ban roosters without saying they are banning roosters. Your neighbor need only complain your Roo is a nuisance by crowing at all hours, while they are trying to sleep, and they've a cognizable claim.

Anything else to consider? Yeb, back to 6.28.020...

B.
Livestock may not be killed by or at the direction of the owner or keeper of the livestock except pursuant to the lawful order of the state or county health officials, or for the purposed of euthanasia when surrendered to a licensed veterinarian or the Humane Society for such purpose, or as otherwise expressly permitted by law.

Don't think you will be raising birds for the table.

How about "Livestock at Large"? (as in, what if they get off my property???)

What else?

6.32.030 - Inspection powers.

Whenever necessary to make an inspection to enforce any of the provisions of this chapter, or whenever a police officer or animal control officer or authorized representative has probable cause to believe that there exists in any building or upon any premises any animal which is afflicted with rabies, or is being mistreated or neglected, the police officer, animal control officer or authorized representative may enter such building or premises at all reasonable times to inspect the same or to perform any duty imposed upon the officer by this title; provided, that if such building or premises is occupied, the police officer, animal control officer or authorized representative shall first present proper credentials and request entry; and if such building or premises is unoccupied, the police officer, animal control officer or authorized representative shall first make a reasonable effort to locate the owner or other persons having charge or control of the building or premises and request entry. If such entry is refused, or the owner or person having control cannot be located, the police officer, animal control officer or authorized representative shall secure entry pursuant to a warrant regularly issued.
(Ord. 4229 § 1 (part), 1996)

tl;dr if the neighbor complains, the peace officers (including the Humane Society*) can trespass to do a welfare check, but you can force them to get a warrant.

6.32.040 - Humane society personnel designated peace officers.

Animal control personnel, officers, agents and employees of the Humane Society of Larimer County, Inc., are hereby authorized to enforce the provisions of this title to the extent provided in the current contract, then in force, between the City and the Humane Society. Under such circumstances, the officers, agents and employees of the Humane Society are peace officers within the Colorado Municipal Court Rules of Procedures, for purposes of issuing summonses and complaints relating to the enforcement of this title. Nothing in this title shall be construed to, and in no way does, limit the authority of police officers to enforce this title.
(Ord. 4229 § 1 (part), 1996)

And you will need to look to the building code for strutcural requirements, size and number limitations, and setbacks for your coop(s) based on your property's actual zoning.

Hope that helps!

 

[cackleberryandco]

Start with their Code of Ordinances

Start doing keyword searches. Begin with Poultry. Not helpful. Move to Fowl. Better.
This Definition tells us the code uses chickens, ducks, domesticated fowl, and calls them all "Livestock"

Now let's go to the section, "Limitations on Livestock"


Well, that's circular. Section 6.28.010 says...

So your ability to keep chickens is largely at the discretion of your neighbors - because nuisance is "vaguespeak". This allows them to ban roosters without saying they are banning roosters. Your neighbor need only complain your Roo is a nuisance by crowing at all hours, while they are trying to sleep, and they've a cognizable claim.

Anything else to consider? Yeb, back to 6.28.020...


Don't think you will be raising birds for the table.

How about "Livestock at Large"? (as in, what if they get off my property???)

What else?


tl;dr if the neighbor complains, the peace officers (including the Humane Society*) can trespass to do a welfare check, but you can force them to get a warrant.



And you will need to look to the building code for strutcural requirements, size and number limitations, and setbacks for your coop(s) based on your property's actual zoning.

Hope that helps!

Obviously I’m not worried about any building codes at this moment because I don’t have a property there and wont for some years but I just wanted to make sure it was legal!

So, roosters are legal but it’s up to the discretion of my neighbors whether or not I can have one? That makes sense. Nuisance laws are a bit of a grey area I feel like. I live in an area where roosters are banned so I don’t have much experience on them but I would like to own one in the future; I will have to do the research when the time comes.

Thank you so much for helping! I am useless with trying to read all those laws, it makes my brain hurt

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Obviously I’m not worried about any building codes at this moment because I don’t have a property there and wont for some years but I just wanted to make sure it was legal!

So, roosters are legal but it’s up to the discretion of my neighbors whether or not I can have one? That makes sense. Nuisance laws are a bit of a grey area I feel like. I live in an area where roosters are banned so I don’t have much experience on them but I would like to own one in the future; I will have to do the research when the time comes.

Thank you so much for helping! I am useless with trying to read all those laws, it makes my brain hurt

I have "some experience" with legislation. Call it an odd reading habit, and comment on this forum frequently, for that reason. Hopefully, I've offered enough explanation of what I'm doing that you can repeat my steps in the future (or ask for help again) before you are ready to move.

Also, if you get just outside the city, into the County, you may find the ordinances more permissive, the land a bit cheaper, and the commute - sadly - longer. But something to consider.

Nuisance Law, btw, is something I absolutely hate. Its not grounded in anything, but the opinion of whatever judge you happen to draw. Not a basis, in my view, for civilized society to conduct itself. There's no certainty.

Also, I am NOT A lawyer, not an Attorney, not admitted to the Bar anywhere, not able to practice law anywhere, this isn't legal advice, etc...

Just the opinion of a reasonably well read consumer. Nothing more. Worth no more than you paid for it, perhaps less. Caveat Emptor. etc etc etc.

 

[Banana01]

Obviously I’m not worried about any building codes at this moment because I don’t have a property there and wont for some years but I just wanted to make sure it was legal!

So, roosters are legal but it’s up to the discretion of my neighbors whether or not I can have one? That makes sense. Nuisance laws are a bit of a grey area I feel like. I live in an area where roosters are banned so I don’t have much experience on them but I would like to own one in the future; I will have to do the research when the time comes.

Thank you so much for helping! I am useless with trying to read all those laws, it makes my brain hurt

Lol yea i was going to say ask a law student and keep studying animal medicine, but also keep raising chickens. That experience is worth it to become an exotic or avion vet.

As someone who lives in a remote lawless area and raises chickens, i would say you dont even want roosters unless you lived somewhere you can let them crow naturally and not even think about neighbors. You could do some decibal study to determine minimum neighbor distance, but you can hear a rooster crow for at least 2000 feet or even more, especially in the mountains where the sound echoes. They crow all day and at night, often at midnight and 2am.

You need to be probably 30 minutes away from cities and tourist areas at least I imagine. This is unless you find neighbors that have roosters, then you could join them. I guess my point is you don't want problems with neighbors complaining as it could fall under a blanket noise nuisance law. A farming community would be ideal where others have animals or neighbors that keep them.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I have 30+ acres, and some nights, I want to strangle my own birds.

 

[cackleberryandco]

Lol yea i was going to say ask a law student and keep studying animal medicine, but also keep raising chickens. That experience is worth it to become an exotic or avion vet.

As someone who lives in a remote lawless area and raises chickens, i would say you dont even want roosters unless you lived somewhere you can let them crow naturally and not even think about neighbors. You could do some decibal study to determine minimum neighbor distance, but you can hear a rooster crow for at least 2000 feet or even more, especially in the mountains where the sound echoes. They crow all day and at night, often at midnight and 2am.

You need to be probably 30 minutes away from cities and tourist areas at least I imagine. This is unless you find neighbors that have roosters, then you could join them. I guess my point is you don't want problems with neighbors complaining as it could fall under a blanket noise nuisance law. A farming community would be ideal where others have animals or neighbors that keep them.

I appreciate this. I have plenty of time to figure all of that out. For right now I should probably just finish my schooling and not hold onto any promises because any laws may change in years from now. I know about roosters, my extended family has had some. Loveland in particular is 30 minutes from Fort Collins and an hour from Denver, it's not a big city but definitely isn't rural. I live 35-45 minutes from Chicago and even with that distance we have a limit on chickens and live pretty close together.

I just know I want to live in Colorado, but I suppose I can work out the details when the time comes. I just need to get out of Illinois been here my whole godforsaken life.

But thanks for the help!