ordinance help!!!!

[themichigander]

well i found out today that we didn't recieve the variance and we were also told to move our shed which we build and assembled ourselves(this took days) to a different location not behind the garage because it is now a "fire hazard" with people putting lawn mowers and other items using gasoline in them. there is no specific evidence of this ever happening and our shed has ventilation and no electirical running to it so it is impossble for fumes to be ignited unless from some other source outside the shed. with the coop they told us to move it to our back corner of the yard in plain site, next to a half dead oak tree that were having removed, and that is under 35 ft from our pool. I want to find a loop hole because i know there is one but i just dont have time to do it. the chickens are 9 weeks old and are very cramped in our labrador's kennel (makeshift brooder) plus im going to school so i have no time to find this loophole unless someone helps find it for me. This has become very frustating and has raised my attention to other unjustified ordinances. what should i do? Move the coop? put the chickens in the coop until i sort the permit and ordinance stuff out?? i really don't know what to do!!!!

 

[wingless]

Well, if it were me I'd make a copy of the two Michigan Right to Farm documents that I sent you, and give them to the city.

I would inform the city that I considered myself to have a farm operation (chickens), that I intended to sell eggs to friends and neighbors (commercial), and to follow good management practices as defined by the state (GAAMPS).

And then I would say that based on those documents it appears that the MRTFA trumps local ordinances for any farm operation in Michigan that is commercial and follows GAAMPS, and would ask them to show you language in those documents - or any other document - that supports their view that they have the right to enforce ordinances that the state clearly prohibits.

I don't think they'll find it, because I think the state law does protect you. Michigan's Right to Farm Act is the strongest in the nation, but it only works if people know about it and use it.

 

[themichigander]

ok but what do i do with the chickens during this time?????

 

[wingless]

I guess it depends on whether you are aiming to meet city ordinance requirements, or alternatively to claim that they don't apply since you meet the requirements of the Michigan Right to Farm Act. It might also depend on how determined you are to keep your chickens, even in the face of possible legal battles.

You could also post your question to the MRTFA thread, since folks there might have other (better) ideas. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...o-farm-law-what-does-it-mean/530#post_8838421

 

[real_redhead]

Good luck, I live in Virginia and Salem VA just won the chicken battle with some similar ordinances.

http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/307872

After reading your problem and everyone else facing the same issue I really think this is crazy...I know people have shared opinions on this in the past but I find it CRAZY that towns/cities/people have such a hard time with backyard chickens. Look at all the problems dogs cause and there is almost nothing anyone can do about it. You have a chicken and the world is coming to an end. Most of my neighbors don't even know I have chickens but everyone knows who has dogs. Especially the ones left out all day with an invisible fence that butts right up to a neighbors property line. No dog house, no shelter those poor dogs are left out 8 - 10 hrs a day and sometime all night, barking etc. It is legal in my city to have up to 10 chickens and more if you have a larger lot. I have had more problems with dogs - dog jumped our fence tore open the run and killed 4 of my 5, before that a neighbors dog bite my daughter. My chickens stay in my backyard, don't make much noise and I keep it clean so no issues with smell, unlike a neighbor who doesn't clean up her dog poop and on hot summer days it stinks. I wanna say - really people stop worrying about chickens! And no I am not a dog hater (except the one that killed my girls). Most of my family has dogs and my very good friend and neighbor as a dog that I dog sit for! I just find it comical the amount of effort towns/cities put into the keeping of chickens. I hope you are able to resolve your issue with your coop/run.

Sorry for taking over your post! But sometimes it feels good to let it out!

 

[themichigander]

here's a check up on my situation. we moved our shed and coop with no hassles to the location the city inspector suggested which was about 100 ft. away from the original location. we also started on the pen(all of which has to equal a total 80sq.ft.)it all took a day. i still have to cover the top with chicken wire and then i can put the chickens in their home. i also have to just give the inspector images of the coop area and distances and set backs from property line, homes,etc. and then he'll ok the permit. here's what happend.

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