Model Ordinance

[Coopa Cabana]

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Excellent advice!!

 

[Mac in Wisco]

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Although I've never been involved in drafting such ordinances, I've read many news clippings and posts here describing what different municipalities have proposed.

The most basic rules limit the number of hens and don't allow roosters. Some require a permit from the municipality to generate revenue towards animal control. Fair enough.

Many go way too far:

Some folks can't stand the idea that somebody may actually raise, and then eat, a chicken. So they pass ordinances that say you are not allowed to slaughter any chicken on your premises.

They propose unreasonable setbacks for housing and ranging of birds to keep the birds as far away from neighboring residences as possible. It doesn't matter that there no such restrictions for other pets, such as dogs.

They feel they need to keep it humane and stipulate arbitrary "humane" requirements such as the amount of space required (no more than 10 birds per acre, or other such nonsense). They stipulate housing requirements (housing must provide a minimum of 4 sq ft per bird). Some ordinances I've seen get very detailed as to animal husbandry requirements, probably due to some well meaning backyard chicken "experts" helping to draft the ordinances.

My least favorite are ordinances that say that you are allowed to keep chickens if you get permission from 50% of your neighbors. This is a very common one, but the one I find the most ridiculous.

 

[jbouvier]

Carolyn:

Thanks so much for this information. This is the kind of feedback I am looking for from the community. I want to make sure that any model ordinance takes into account the needs and desires of chicken owners and is not too skewed to cities' concerns.

Thanks again!

Jaime

 

[ChooksinChoppers]

How are you doing with this Jaime?

 

[Buugette]

I am excited about this project... and can't wait to see the end result. I am an illegal chicken owner... but have been asked by the township zoning officer to help change the ordinance. My fear, though, is if I start something, draw attention to myself and other chicken owners in my neighborhood, that we will be shot down and I will lose my girls and cause others to lose theirs.

I think if BYC owners present a united front, gain some consistency across citys... we will have a fighting chance of making this happen.

Thank you for taking on this project, and you really couldn't have found more wonderful and knowledgeable people to assist you.

Diana

 

[jbouvier]

Right now I am working through the ordinances in the most populous cities. I am also doing background research on owning chickens. If anyone has a book, article, or professional they could recommend that would be really helpful. I know that a lot of University extensions work to advance urban agriculture in their localities.

Any help is much appreciated.

 

[ailurophile23]

I understand that it might be helpful to be able to cite a book or an article but I have to tell you that, having read many books and articles, the best chicken information I have found is on this site. All questions I have had for the whole process of becoming a chicken caretaker have been answered on this site better than anywhere else I have found. I wish I had found the site before I bought the books - the books are just collecting dust at this point. And if the answer isn't easy to find, you just ask the question and the professionals here answer you. Good luck with your project and thanks.

 

[ChooksinChoppers]

Jaime you do have the municode link right? So helpfull in finding city codes http://www.municode.com/library/library.aspx

 

[EliteTempleton]

Quote:
Although I've never been involved in drafting such ordinances, I've read many news clippings and posts here describing what different municipalities have proposed.

The most basic rules limit the number of hens and don't allow roosters. Some require a permit from the municipality to generate revenue towards animal control. Fair enough.

Many go way too far:

Some folks can't stand the idea that somebody may actually raise, and then eat, a chicken. So they pass ordinances that say you are not allowed to slaughter any chicken on your premises.

They propose unreasonable setbacks for housing and ranging of birds to keep the birds as far away from neighboring residences as possible. It doesn't matter that there no such restrictions for other pets, such as dogs.

They feel they need to keep it humane and stipulate arbitrary "humane" requirements such as the amount of space required (no more than 10 birds per acre, or other such nonsense). They stipulate housing requirements (housing must provide a minimum of 4 sq ft per bird). Some ordinances I've seen get very detailed as to animal husbandry requirements, probably due to some well meaning backyard chicken "experts" helping to draft the ordinances.

My least favorite are ordinances that say that you are allowed to keep chickens if you get permission from 50% of your neighbors. This is a very common one, but the one I find the most ridiculous.

I agree, I don't need to ask my neighbors permission if I'd like to get a new dog (who might howl everytime a siren is heard, bark in the night, have stinky bowel movements, or shed so much fur that it blows into the neighbors yard...)