Michigan Right to Farm Law, what does it mean?

[iluvcks]

Quote:
I just checked and Arizona has a right to farm Act as well. My understanding is every state in the union does. (could be wrong) If you are having problems with your city read your laws. If I can help research let me know. Good luck

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
I just checked and Arizona has a right to farm Act as well. My understanding is every state in the union does. (could be wrong) If you are having problems with your city read your laws. If I can help research let me know. Good luck

I don't have issues with having my birds. I am completely legal with both city & HOA. But I read so many posts of others all over the country who have difficulty with the laws. It often seems that small rural towns are the most emphatic it trying to outlaw them. There is a thread on here where a person who is half a mile from any public road, on 70 acreas of land, WAY out in the boonies was told that she is zoned single family residential and cannot have any livestock. On 70 acres of land?!?!?!

So my comment was not directed towards what I need, but what I think is needed in many places. But thank you for checking

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
You need to inform the city politicians and attorneys that when the courts rule in your favour that you will request that you be awarded all attorney fees and court costs, and possibly punitive damages: city $$$$ at work.

 

[dsp]

Here is a picture of the coopwe have for Iluvcks

 

[iluvcks]

That is just too cute. love it!

 

[dsp]

Quote:
Finally today the city attorney got back in touch with mine. They want a "letter" of from us of "where we stand" this is crap. Why do I have to fight my city for rights that state law clearly states I have??? I am going to send them a letter of where I am at. What a sham that I have a state law that protects me yet I instaed of them showing why I am not covered I have to fight it.... they also want us to get a "building permit for the coop. Yet I am hesitant because the only thing close to a coop on the citys building permit codes would be a small shed.... and that is wayyyy different than a coop. Plus its 101.00 ( how stupid?) for the permit... how can they approve a coop when they do not have codes for a coop to follow. UGH>

 

[allieloveschickens]

What an adorable coop, I love it!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
Okay, so your letter states that you are a farm protected by state law (list references, and possibly small exerpts as appropriate). That you have contacted the State Dept of Agriculture and been inspected for GAMMPS (sp?) compliance. Attach copies of the approval paperwork. Also state that since this was all already outlined to them by you. Howver, since they required you to hire an attorney to repeat the same information to them, tat you have attached a copy of the bill for the attorney fees, which you should not have had to hire, and that you expect the bill to be paid (or for you to be reimbursed if you have already paid) by ____ (name a reasonable date), or your attorney will file suit for that amount, plus all associated court costs and attorney fees, plus possibly punitive damages.

 

[iluvcks]

One more thought. they are trying to pull the permit crap with us to. Only in our township their own ordinance says that you do NOT need a permit if the building is 100 square feet. Our is 8x8 64 square feet. Check out your ordinace there may be a loop hole too.

 

[dsp]

our city you need a permit for everything. But we do not see how we could get a permit for a shed and have a coop pass inspection because they are both very different....it just wouldn't make sense to even try. Plus the cost to apply for the permit is 101.00.

I wrote out a book for the city today. I am hoping my attorney agrees with the information I included.

I included a proposal of my "plan" to assure my city I have not plans for a huge production....a report complete with pictures about my 5 hens- what kind they are ( ISA browns) and why I choose them) and a Poultry Operations Guide for my farm as suggested my iluvcks.

but of course my attorney is out of the office today so it all has to wait until Monday.

It just frustrates me so much that I ( and many others) have to go throught this when we have a law that clearly supports us. Chickens are a lot like guns. I am sure I have neighbors that wouldnt want to know I have firearms. But a right is a right. I have the right to own guns just like I have the right to own chickens because I practice GAAMPS and am protected by the RTFA.