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Welcome to the coop! I use the Forums and Articles tabs at the top of the page to do research. You can get lost for hours. It's nice to know you are minutes away from getting help with questions and emergencies! I always check in the "What's New" section as well at the top of this page. This way I can read how I may have a similar question or help give some advice.
 
LizCarpenter said:
Hi Everyone! Thanks for adding me as a new member. I've been keeping chickens for over 12 years in 3 states: Los Angeles, California, Westport, CT, and Rockville, MD. I now live in Poolesville, MD with my three hens, Skye (Cream Legbar), Luna (Black Australorp) and Petunia (Ameracauna). I have been in a few articles and a news show recently about initiating the change in zoning in the town of Poolesville to allow backyard chickens. After working with town Commissioners for almost a year with several loyal supporters, the zoning laws were changed to allow backyard chickens.

But our success has been very short-lived. Upon applying for a permit, which required me to take a higher education level course in chicken keeping (despite my 12 years’ experience as a chicken keeper), I discovered from town officials that even though I placed our coop 15 feet in from our lot line (according to requirements) that my coop is less than 100 feet from my neighbors, both on the opposite side of my house and behind me. My permit to keep chickens was declined, so sadly, I continue to “live in sin” with my three hens in Poolesville.

Almost every other municipality in Montgomery County has setbacks of 50 feet or less, so I'm disappointed that our town decided to default to the county setback of 100 feet, which is excessive for any suburban neighborhood where most lots are less than 1/2 acre. I would love to hear everyone's thoughts on this. Thanks! View attachment 3424550
Click to expand...
LizCarpenter said:
Hi Everyone! Thanks for adding me as a new member. I've been keeping chickens for over 12 years in 3 states: Los Angeles, California, Westport, CT, and Rockville, MD. I now live in Poolesville, MD with my three hens, Skye (Cream Legbar), Luna (Black Australorp) and Petunia (Ameracauna). I have been in a few articles and a news show recently about initiating the change in zoning in the town of Poolesville to allow backyard chickens. After working with town Commissioners for almost a year with several loyal supporters, the zoning laws were changed to allow backyard chickens.

But our success has been very short-lived. Upon applying for a permit, which required me to take a higher education level course in chicken keeping (despite my 12 years’ experience as a chicken keeper), I discovered from town officials that even though I placed our coop 15 feet in from our lot line (according to requirements) that my coop is less than 100 feet from my neighbors, both on the opposite side of my house and behind me. My permit to keep chickens was declined, so sadly, I continue to “live in sin” with my three hens in Poolesville.

Almost every other municipality in Montgomery County has setbacks of 50 feet or less, so I'm disappointed that our town decided to default to the county setback of 100 feet, which is excessive for any suburban neighborhood where most lots are less than 1/2 acre. I would love to hear everyone's thoughts on this. Thanks! View attachment 3424550
Click to expand...
Welcome to BYC!!
 
Welcome. I feel so bad for all of you that have to deal with city and/or HOA ordinances. I live in the middle of no where on 6-acres, in a used to be town, so I don't have this battle. I think that chickens are abused in so many ways, factory farming, medical experiments, and seen as "dirty" animals by those who do not understand. While there are little to no ordinances for how many dogs and cats and other animals one can own. My battle right now are the factory farms.
 

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