Southern Ohio County Laws

[Future Chicken Owner]

First post here. Hope I can find answers.

Currently hubby and I live in a rural city where they changed the law and said we could have chickens. They then changed the law again and said that if we wanted chicken we had to keep them 50 feet or more from property lines. That makes it so that we can't even have chickens.

We thought about moving out into the county but found out that the county codes say you have to have more than 5 acres to have chickens, which they consider livestock.

I figure there have to be counties where you can have just an acre or more and have some chickens. I started trying to find the county codes for some southern Ohio counties, but can't seem to find codes for some places. Does that mean they don't have any codes/laws?

It would be wonderful to find and meet people who live in rural southern Ohio and find out where it is chicken friendly.

 

[AlleysChicks]

Welcome neighbor! Where are you located? I’m also in southern Ohio.

 

[Future Chicken Owner]

Welcome neighbor! Where are you located? I’m also in southern Ohio.

Right now we are in Northern Ohio. Ashtabula County. We would love to move to southern Ohio in the future. Better weather and hopefully more conducive to having chickens!

 

[AlleysChicks]

They are pretty much everywhere down here. Even in town. I think the only thing is no roosters in town due to noise.

 

[wholehearted]

Hi and welcome to BYC! I live in Southwest Ohio (Clark County) now after living in Northeast Ohio (Trumbull County) previously.

Zoning for agriculture/livestock can be confusing in Ohio because it varies depending on whether you live in a township, village, or city. Ohio state law puts limits on the ability of townships or counties to use zoning to prohibit agricultural activities unless the property is in a platted subdivision of 15 or more lots. County property records should show whether a lot is platted or not. If it's a township property and it's not considered platted/part of a subdivision, you do not need five acres to have livestock. As it's been explained to me, there is no minimum acreage requirement if you are on an unplatted lot in a township (although this does not stop zoning officials from trying to say otherwise).

Cities and villages have more authority to control agricultural activities and the above does not apply to them.

In regard to your current situation, do you live in a township, city, or village? If township, do you know if your lot is platted? If city or village, it seems they do have the law on their side in restricting livestock.

In regard to considering a move, look for unplatted lots in townships rather than villages or cities for the least amount of restriction. Some townships do have their own zoning, but cannot use it to prohibit agriculture unless in a subdivided/platted lot, as mentioned above. Other townships are governed by county zoning because they don't write their own township zoning codes, but the same rule applies that they cannot use it to prohibit agriculture unless you are platted/subdivision.

I hope this makes some sense. If not, let me know. We have unfortunately had to deal with some issues about this related to our property, which is what caused me to research more.