Michigan Right to Farm Law, what does it mean?

[CaraBear]

DReyRose - any updates ??

I posted these questions on another thread, but I'm thinking they're probably better suited here:


Do I get a coop, set it up and then send a request to the MDARD for a pro-active RTFA inspection? And how do I showcase that I'm meeting GAAMPs other than with pictures and statements of how I will comply (since in all likelihood they will actually not come for an on-site inspection...)

I don't want to make a huge investment if I'm going to get challenged by the city and have to abandon my plans....is there a way to get MDARD right to farm approval without actually farming yet??

Thanks for any help/advice....financially I'm getting a little gun shy, and don't want my kids (and I!) attached to chickens that we'll lose our shirts over trying to keep...

 

[sweetmommas]

Hi... I'm so glad I found this site and forum!! I live in Sterling Heights, and have been thinking about keeping chickens for about a year - but unsure on how to start. Has there been any thought of organizing a petition to present to council? I know that Ferndale just recently passed an ordinance allowing chickens - I'm trying to find out just how that came about and see if I can get some ideas on presenting at a council meeting. On another note - I had a neighbor who kept racing pigeons - he said it was allowed by state law - as long as his pigeon coop was in compliance with MDA rules and his coop and pigeons passed local inspections, he was ok. Strange to me that it's ok to not only keep several pigeons - but its ok to let them fly freely - where they can do all the things pigeons do (to car hoods and unsuspecting passerbys). I have NOTHING against pigeons - but this mightmake a good point. I'm not supposed to let my dog or cat run freely, nad I have to clean up after them when they go out - but I'm certain that no pigeon keeper follows his birds and cleans up after them - so, why is this OK, but keeping a few chickens (most city ords seem to allow between 3 -5 per household), that will not be pooping on the neighbors car, such a problem. I'm fine with the usual "no rooster" rule (too bad, though, they do the best job of keeping the hens safe!), and 3-5 hens would be plenty. I expect to pay for a permit or licence, and to be inspected... seems like an easy revenue source for the city! Besides, isn't Sterling Heights trying to be a progressive, future thinking city?

Perhaps we need a slogan: Chickens.... it's the progessive thing to do!!


Nedra

 

[wingless]

DReyRose - any updates ??
I posted these questions on another thread, but I'm thinking they're probably better suited here:
Do I get a coop, set it up and then send a request to the MDARD for a pro-active RTFA inspection? And how do I showcase that I'm meeting GAAMPs other than with pictures and statements of how I will comply (since in all likelihood they will actually not come for an on-site inspection...)
I don't want to make a huge investment if I'm going to get challenged by the city and have to abandon my plans....is there a way to get MDARD right to farm approval without actually farming yet??
Thanks for any help/advice....financially I'm getting a little gun shy, and don't want my kids (and I!) attached to chickens that we'll lose our shirts over trying to keep...

I tried requesting a preemptive GAAMPS inspection last summer from the state, and was told that I should contact the city instead of them - even though no city that I know of has GAAMPS - GAAMPS are state requirements for protection under MRTFA, and have nothing to do with the city. I think it's a great strategy to get the state to come out and certify you as compliant, however, and perhaps you will get a better response than I did.

Note that you don't have to be compliant with GAAMPS at the time of any particular complaint to win protection under MRTFA; if you read the first document in my signature line, in box 2a on page 2 they indicate that all you have to do is become compliant with GAAMPS - so presumably if any problems with meeting GAAMPS do occur in your farming operation (backyard chickens), you get a chance to fix them before losing MRTFA protection.

So I guess I don't really think GAAMPS are the issue; you can certainly become compliant with those guidelines.

I think the issue is whether or not your local government will recognize that if you are a farming operation, are commercial, and are compliant with GAAMPS, then MRTFA trumps local ordinances and zoning laws.

 

[chicklett072]

Hello! I am also starting to raise chickens and the only local ordinance I found was to be no livestock in the city limits from 1977. Not sure if I should go to the next city council meeting or just claim MRTFA if found out. I live in Durand Mi

 

[CaraBear]

Thanks, wingless - good points there!

Now I'm just trying to convince my husband that chickens are a good idea!

 

[joesandy1822]

Hi. I live in Shelby Township, MI and I am trying to organize a group of people who are interested in having backyard chickens to help me get our ordinances AGAINST chickens changed. I know about the MRTFA, but for those of us who just want a few pet hens and not go "commercial", this would be for people like that.

The Yahoo group is called ShelbyTownship_BackYardChickens. Anybody from here who's interested, come on over and let's get moving on this. From all I've read here, it could take awhile.

Thanks,
Sandy

I will also post a couple other places. I hope that's alright. Don't want anybody to miss this if they are interested.

 

[joesandy1822]

Does anybody know of member "tajasiberians"? I found an old post back on page 38, and she is also from Shelby Township. I PM'd her a few days ago, but haven't heard back. Thought maybe we could work together on getting our ordinances changed in Shelby, but maybe she isn't active here anymore. Anybody know?

Thanks for any help.

Sandy

 

[hippychickster]

 

[hippychickster]

 

[a6a5puma]

Today I went and got all the ordinances for my village ( vicksburg) and they say I need a permit. And for that i need to apply and see if they accept it. And I need to get a different permit every time i want to get a new animal. I currently have 2 Pekin ducks in my backyard but i dont have a permit... and I dotn want to get a misdemeanor for not getting a permit. On the application i need to say the type of livestock, the location, where they will be kept, and desired number of animals.. They permits only last a year so i would need to repurchase the permit every year. Plus i would need 2-3 permits if i wish the buy more hens throughout the year.

I guess Im asking how can i change the ordinances for my village so i dont need to buy a permit every year per type of animal i want.. is there any way I can make it so I can just get 1 permit for all fowel or birds? Or make it so you dont need a permit?

Thanks for your input and support!