Stafford County, VA

[pipAchick]

I think you should give it a shot! What sort will you get? I work off 610 so with all my chicken friends out that way I can't see someone making to much a fuss&if they do try dropping a nice card&dozen eggs! Hard to not like someone if they hook ya up with some free food from time to time! Best of luck!

 

[jnr005]

Want colored egg layers. Some copper morans, Easter eggers, wellsummer, and Deleware. I want one hen of each.

 

[pipAchick]

I have some e.e's in the Bater currently. I can send pics once they hatch if your intrested? Did you get to set up a coop yet? I don't know about the Delaware but the other breeds seem quite compared to some I have hopefully your neighbor will "play nice". I live across the street from a HOA LMBO each morning I smile as my roo's wake everyone up.

 

[sjbtigger19]

We're in Ferry Farm area, and are planning on just making it super private and hidden, so they stay safe and out of sight.

 

[pipAchick]

Just heard about a Falmouth Va swap for this Saturday..anybody know of others in Va this weekend?

 

[Nottingham72]

I'm just wondering if anyone on here has worked to add a chicken ordinance in Stafford, VA? I did a little bit but got nowhere, but didn't go at it full force as the hard-worker in Prince William County did. I decided not to draw attention to myself and move forward.

To me it appears that those with less than 3 acres that aren't zoned A-1 or A-2 can't have them, though last time I looked was a few years back and I had to search 3 different places to piece it together. A friend of mine was told by the county if the neighbors don't complain, and there isn't an HOA, go for it. I got the feeling as well that the county doesn't want a big debate on this.

Any input is welcome ~ I'm to the point of wanting it clear cut and legal.

 

[ChickenLyttle]

CHICKENS ARE ALLOWED ON ALL RESIDENTIAL LOTS IN STAFFORD COUNTY (read on)

I thought I already posed on this thread, but maybe it was a similar one. We fought to keep our chickens on our R-2 lot in Aquia Harbour and recently won in Circuit Court (March 2016).

We first went in front of the AHPOA to plead our case and they couldn't understand but said they would let the county handle it and then rely on the county's decision. The County coincidentally sent us a violation shortly afterward, so we paid our $612.00 and filed an appeal in front of the Board of Zoning Appeal (BZA). Even though they could not point to a specific ordinance and had to make presumptions, the BZA returned a negative vote. One board member started the negative vote by quoting a Companion Animal definition that excludes agricultural and research animals as companion animals. I tried to explain that the definition was only used in ordinances referring to care of and cruelty of animals and was different than the definition of a pet. Agricultural and research animals are typically not treated as well and that is why they are excluded from the Companion Animal definition...They didn't agree and ruled against me.

So we filed a real appeal with the Stafford circuit court. The circuit court judge read the ordinance and my brief and easily came to the understanding that 1) chickens are not prohibited on residential lots, 2) owning chickens does not automatically mean you are using your lot for agricultural purposes and 3) that chickens can be pets.

So, thought we were all clear until the AHPOA published in the Harbour View magazine that although we had won our battle in court, chickens were not allowed in Aquia Harbour. Pretty mean to make us go through that time and expense and then rescind their original agreement.

So I went in front of the board last week to help them understand English and am waiting for their response. They currently are betting all their chips on the AH restriction that reads: "No animal, fowl or livestock may be held on said lot except a reasonable number of household pets." What's not to understand? I guess when they see the word pet, they only think of dogs and cats, forgetting all the other pets. I guess they don't see the word animal and they think fowl only refers to chickens and not parrots, parakeets, songbirds...Need I go on. If they cannot figure it out, we will be going back to circuit court, but this time I will ask for my money back plus extra for harassment.

Anyway, I'll give you an update on the Harbour when I get it, but for the rest of Stafford County, go get some chickens!

 

[ChickenLyttle]

You're good to go Nottingham22. Read above...The law is already quite clear. That's why you could not find anything.

 

[jnr005]

CHICKENS ARE ALLOWED ON ALL RESIDENTIAL LOTS IN STAFFORD COUNTY (read on)

I thought I already posed on this thread, but maybe it was a similar one.  We fought to keep our chickens on  our R-2 lot in Aquia Harbour and recently won in Circuit Court (March 2016).  

We first went in front of the AHPOA to plead our case and they couldn't understand but said they would let the county handle it and then rely on the county's decision.  The County coincidentally sent us a violation shortly afterward, so we paid our $612.00 and filed an appeal in front of the Board of Zoning Appeal (BZA). Even though they could not point to a specific ordinance and had to make presumptions, the BZA returned a negative vote.  One board member started the negative vote by quoting a Companion Animal definition that excludes agricultural and research animals as companion animals. I tried to explain that the definition was only used in ordinances referring to care of and cruelty of animals and was different than the definition of a pet.  Agricultural and research animals are typically not treated as well and that is why they are excluded from the Companion Animal definition...They didn't agree and ruled against me.

So we filed a real appeal with the Stafford circuit court.  The circuit court judge read the ordinance and my brief and easily came to the understanding that 1) chickens are not prohibited on residential lots, 2) owning chickens does not automatically mean you are using your lot for agricultural purposes and 3) that chickens can be pets.

So, thought we were all clear until the AHPOA published in the Harbour View magazine that although we had won our battle in court, chickens were not allowed in Aquia Harbour.  Pretty mean to make us go through that time and expense and then rescind their original agreement.

So I went in front of the board last week to help them understand English and am waiting for their response.  They currently are betting all their chips on the AH restriction that reads: "No animal, fowl or livestock may be held on said lot except a reasonable number of household pets."  What's not to understand?  I guess when they see the word pet, they only think of dogs and cats, forgetting all the other pets.  I guess they don't see the word animal and they think fowl only refers to chickens and not parrots, parakeets, songbirds...Need I go on.  If they cannot figure it out, we will be going back to circuit court, but this time I will ask for my money back plus extra for harassment.

Anyway, I'll give you an update on the Harbour when I get it, but for the rest of Stafford County, go get some chickens! 

Hoping you can win this against the Harbor HOA!!! Thank you for fighting this fight! I don't have an HOA but your case allowed me to feel comfortable with getting chickens this spring. We love them and can't imagine not having them

 

[ChickenLyttle]

I need to learn how to work this message board better