Michigan Right to Farm Law, what does it mean?

[iluvcks]

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I looked up your municipal code and zoning regs and the laws are poorly written. Nonetheless, based on the code you can only keep 3 dogs and ferrets. No other animals are allowed unless you are a farm (even cats). However, you could argue that they use the word 'animal' to describe 'dogs' so much (and I mean a lot) that when they said you can't own ANY animals in the city limits (yes it really states that) they were really refering to dogs.
Also, welcome to BYC, be careful it is very addicting.

I also did some research on your ordinaces. This is what you need to find out. What are you zoned. For istance I live in Bangor Twp. I am zoned R1. Which means Residential Single Family. In the zoning ordinances it allows for farm animals as long as your property is 40 acres or bigger. Bangor twp has NO agricultural zone all its own.

Battle Creek does. In your Ag area you can keep pulltry and other small farm animals like goats on any size property. They do have other rules that I didnt really look at because it would seem to me that as long as your following GAAMP your golden. You can keep large farm animals like horses, cows, and sheep on not less than 10 acres. Which again I think is crap because of GAAMP.

The thing about the Ag district is... when we met with the gentleman from MDA the other day, he asked a lot of questions about zoning. Please call him. Monday. Call Steve Mahoney. If you want the direct number you can find it on line or PM me and I will get it to you right away. Check which zone you live in. If your in the Ag zone you don't have to worry, but if youre not... I am sure that what he told us is...if they have a section set up purposely for Ag they don't have to allow any where else. You will NOT be protected from MRTFA. I am so sorry. I should have paid closer attention when he talked about this with us. It just didnt pertain to us so I didnt really pay enough attention. I hope I am wrong. But he is the man you want to talk to. don't get your hopes up yet... but don't feel defeated yet either. But I will warn you. If you don't live in an Ag district be very dilagent with your records. With the way Battle Creeks ordinaces read, If they decide to come after you, you are going to have one H*** of a fight on your hands. Remember the more taxes a Twp is bringing in, is more money they have to fight its own citizens. Don't be afraid, if your in the right, to let everyone know just how much tax payer money your Twp is spending on fighting your right to farm your own land.

 

[iluvcks]

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I love that you are legal AND willing to stand up with us. Now how to get oganizied... I think we should have a meeting at our home. We are going to start having poultry keeping classes soon. (Its in the GAAMP, it is recomended that a farm takes an interest and helps out its community. Through education, farm days, etc. Somehow I doubt our township will give us a special permit for farm days)

 

[deborah]

We are zoned agricultural and have nearly 18 acres. BUT there are deed restrictions that were put on in the 80's when the original farm was split up. It says household pets and horses only.
We have 20 chickens, including 1 rooster. We started out 3 years ago, and so far, none of the neighbors have complained. But I worry we are walking on eggshells. We do sell excess eggs. If push came to shove, and one of our neighbors tried to cause use trouble, could we use the Michigan Right to Farm law to void the deed restriction?

 

[jaj121159]

I'm guessing NO. First of all the Deed restriction was in place prior to you having livestock. Second, even though you are zoned AG is your 18 acres considered a farm? Thisl may help you in determining if you have a farm or not.

 

[michickenwrangler]

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Bay City allows horses too ... in city limits

I wonder why zoning approves horses but not chickens. A half-dozen chickens does not produce a fraction of the smell and manure that a horse does. Also, having bales of hay around to feed a horse will attract A LOT of rodents who will turn it into a condo.

You'd think a city like Bay City that is very ethnic and with the most bars per capita in Michigan would have a better attitude toward chickens

 

[iluvcks]

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The State of Michigan has deemed us a poultry facility. We have 2/3 acre. We're still calling ourselves Balwinski Farms. We meet with the lawyer again Monday. But I do know that he asked to see what is written on the deed. It sounds as though if your deed prohibits Agriculture or in this case chickens, that you are NOT safe. I will ask my lawyer Monday and post after.

 

[iluvcks]

Quote:
Bay City allows horses too ... in city limits

I wonder why zoning approves horses but not chickens. A half-dozen chickens does not produce a fraction of the smell and manure that a horse does. Also, having bales of hay around to feed a horse will attract A LOT of rodents who will turn it into a condo.

You'd think a city like Bay City that is very ethnic and with the most bars per capita in Michigan would have a better attitude toward chickens

I dont know about Bay City, but in Bangor the ordinance for keeping horses changed a few years ago. A man just down the road from us wanted to keep mini horses. He hired a lawyer and fought with the Township. He gave up befpre it was all over, but the changed the ordinance from 40 acres to 5 for the first horse and 1 acre for each additional horse.

Bay City DOES allow chickens anywhere within the city, But there are strict rules they want you to follow. For instance the coop is suppossed to be built out of cinderblock buried not less than two feet below ground. 4 sq feet of fllor space per chicken, and 20% of whatever that floor space is has to be windows. ETC.

So I'm not working against Bay City, I'm in Bangor. Which really is even more insane. I am not in Gas Light Village or something. (which would actually mean I would have signed a seperate contract with the Homeowners Association) My whole side of Bangor is VERY rural. I understand that the Trustees what Bangor to be something "better" but were not. We are simplely living as much of a country life as we can on the edge of town. A lot of us out here have chickens. But since we are right in the open on a very busy road everyone sees. They need to make an example out of us thereby sending a message to everyone else who thinks about stepping out of line.

 

[michickenwrangler]

That's right, Bangor's kinda on the NW side isn't it?

You'd think a township would be more lenient than the city in regards to chickens.

There's a member on here (can't remember her name) who lives in West Branch and they've got pretty strict laws in regards to poultry in town.

I live in Deep River TWP in Arenac county and their zoning states you have to have at least 5 acres in order to have farm animals, chickens are incl. One of my neighbors who has 1.9 acres has goats and chickens and she gets around it because she "leases" land from another neighbor who has 20 acres. She gives them free goat milk and eggs in exchange for the "lease" on 4 acres where she dumps her manure.

We have 5 1/2 so we're fine.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

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The State of Michigan has deemed us a poultry facility. We have 2/3 acre. We're still calling ourselves Balwinski Farms. We meet with the lawyer again Monday. But I do know that he asked to see what is written on the deed. It sounds as though if your deed prohibits Agriculture or in this case chickens, that you are NOT safe. I will ask my lawyer Monday and post after.

If that were the case, then people could still deed restrict the race of people who are not allowed to own or live on a property.

 

[iluvcks]

Deed restricting a race of people is TOTALLY different than restricting Agricultural. Seriously really now...That is against every law in the nation I would think. From Federal down to townships. I am not saying that its right to deed restict anything expecially Agricultural I am just relaying the words my lawyer told me. I'll know for sure tomorrow.