Received Bad Information~from Legal to Illegal in a Hearbeat What now?

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
Agreed! Most cities have multiple residential zoning areas, and what is allowed in one is not necessarily allowed in another. Depending on the exact prhasing of the reporter's question and the depth of knowledge of the person the reporter spoke with at the city, the information printed could be accurate, inaccurate or partially accurate.

Find out what your specific zoning is, then ask to see the code for that specific section. Wade through it all.

 

[Hatrick]

I did post a link to our by-law page entitled "The Keeping of Animals" have a look, let me know what you think please!

 

[Brindlebtch]

Depends what a residential unit is. I would assume it would mean my house and yard, were I you. For heaven's sake, they tell you not to have hyenas, sperm whales or ducks! Not one mention of a chicken. If they are geting so specific as to mention platypuses (platypi??

) and don't deign to mention a chicken, not even in latin, I think you are in the clear.

Your law makers have some strange ideas!

 

[SandyRiverChick]

How many sq ft is your lot? My step mom had chickens in Edmonton, she said laws are same as here (WA.) where "if you have more than 20k sq ft. then yada yada (easy laws), if you have less than... Less than was legal for 3 chickens. Also the house they are in matters... They have to be "housed."

 

[OrpingtonManor]

Quote:
this link didn't work for me. not sure why.

 

[horsejody]

Quote:
It's a good thing that they cleared up the questions about keeping whales, seals, walruses and manatees in the backyard. Get a small cage for the laundry room. If animal control ever comes knocking, show them the cage and say that's where the chickens reside when you bring them in. It says all pets must be housed indoors, except dogs. Well, if you can never have a chicken go outside, then I guess they had better not let anybody get away with having a cat go outdoors either. What a wierd by-law! It's pretty specific when they list animals like whales a walruses. It has to be good that poultry isn't listed. I think you may have a loophole.

Also section 3. d. might give you another loophole. It states that prohibited animals can be kept if you are in charge of exhibition animals, etc. You already said that you took them to the school. Keep doing that. They are an educational exhibit for the school children. Invite a kindergarten class over to observe them in their coop and run and give them all chicken coloring pages, etc.

 

[HobokenChickenEmergency]

"Any animal, bird, amphibian or reptile other than a domestic dog which is not housed within the residential unit of the owner of the animal."


This is the only line I see a problem with, but there are ways around that.

 

[Hatrick]

I love the way you guys read bylaws!

I think that they clarify residental unit in the bylaw, but you're right I could just keep a cage in my basement (my laundry is in my master bedroom

) and then if they question it I could show them the cage.
Too bad I have to hide my platypus still.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

CITY OF ST. CATHARINES
BY-LAW NO. 95-198
A By-law to prohibit and regulate noise.
(d) "domestic animal" means an animal harboured by and cared for by a human being; [apparently the pet bears and hyenas you may keep (unless you are on agricultural land) are considered domestic animals]

(g) The persistent barking, calling or whining or any similar persistent noise caused by any domestic animal.

That By-law No. 95-302, as amended, is hereby further amended by adding after section 23, the following section: "23.1 No person shall keep in or about a dwelling unit more than three (3) dogs except on any lands located outside the urban boundary of the City of St. Catharines.

CITY OF ST. CATHARlNES
BY-LAW NO. 73-244
A By-law for restricting the number of cats and rabbits
1. Except upon land that is assessed as farmland, no person shall have or keep more than one pair of rabbits for breeding purposes and, in any event, not more than eight rabbits on or in connection with his or her premises.
2. Except upon land that is assessed as farmland, no person shall have or keep more than eight cats on or in connection with his or her premises.

22.
(a) No person shall keep or harbour any of the animals listed in Schedule "A" of this By-law on any lands on which an agricultural use is a permitted pursuant to the Zoning By-laws of The Corporation of the City of st. Catharines.


SCHEDULE "A" TO BY-LAW NO. 95-.21;0
Any venomous Reptilia (such as venomous snakes and lizards)
All Ursidae (bears)
All Felidae, except the domestic cat
All Hyaenidae (such as hyaenas and aardwolves)
All non-human Primates (such as gorillas and monkeys)
All Canidae, except the domestic dog
Notwithstanding the above, any animal raised as part of an animal husbandry
operation shall be permitted in the agricultural area.

anyone else see the conflict here?

(b) No person shall keep or harbour on any other lands within the geographic boundaries of the City of St. Catharines any of the animals listed in Schedule "B" of this By-law.

SCHEDULE "B" TO BY-LAW NO. 95-.zJ2J
All Arachnida (such as tarantulas)
All Monotremata (such as platypuses and echidnas)
All Marsupialia (such as kangaroos and opossums)
All non-human Primates (such as gorillas and monkeys)
All Felidae, except the domestic cat
All Canidae, except the domestic dog
All Mustelidae (such as skunks, weasels, otters, and badgers)
except the domestic ferret
All Ursidae (bears)
All Hyaenidae (such as hyaenas and aardwolves)
All Edentata (such as anteaters, sloths and armadillos)
All Artiodactyla (such as goats, sheep, pigs and cattle)
except pot bellied pigs
All Perissodactyla (such as the domestic horse, mule and ass)
All ProbosCidea (elephants)
All Chiroptera (bats)
All Otariidae (such as seal ions and fur seals)
All Odobenidae (walrus) All Phocidae (earless seals)
All Sirenia (such as manattees and dugongs)
All Mysticeti (such as white whales and grey whales)
All Odontoceti (such as dolphins, sperm whales and belugas)
All Sphenisciformes (penguins)
All Struthioniformes (ostriches)
All Rheiformes (rheas)
All Casuariiformes (cassowaries and emus)
All Apterygiformes (kiwis)
All Gaviiformes (loons)
All Anseriformes (such as ducks, geese and swans)

Okay, so one can farm bears or penguins, just not keep them as pets on non-farmland. Galliforms (chickens, etc.) aren't mentioned

More seriously,
"4. How can I find out what my property is zoned?
All you need to do is call City Hall at 905-688-5601 extension 1660 and have your property address. A zoning clerk will be pleased to provide you the information.

5. How can I find out what uses are permitted by the zoning or where I may place a building on my lot?
All you need to do is call City Hall at 905-688-5601 extension 1660 and have your property address. A zoning clerk will be pleased to provide you the information. If what you want to do is not permitted by the zoning by-law, you will be referred to the Planning Services Department to provide information concerning how you may be able to proceed."​

 

[BigPeep]

Hatrick:

I am an attorney and former township and planning commissioner in Illinois and chicken owner.

I should mention at the outset that I am not licensed in your state and you should consult with an attorney in your state for the correct information.

I always tell people, GET A COPY OF THE ORDINANCE. Don't rely on what anyone tells you is or is not allowed. If someone at the city or township or county is telling you that chickens are not allowed, ask them to send you the relevant copies of the ordinances. A lot of times the officials more or less make things up as they go along or interpret things into the ordinances that are really not there.

Also check your state statutues to see if they have any Right To Farm laws and if they may apply to you. You may want to spring for a consultation fee with a local attorney. Find someone who regularly handles zoning work in your area.