*The City of San Diego, California - Chicken and Gamebird / Fowl Law*

[amberalison]

Thanks for being willing to help, however the website doesn't recognize my address. ?? I spent some time with the owners of the feed store nearby my house (in Eucalyptus hills) and they were very helpful. They didn't have EXACT details, but I'm not too concerned after speaking with them. Soooo... we went ahead and bought our first chicks. A Rhode Island Red and an ameraucana.

 

[thang32k]

Thanks!

 

[macdoogle]

I live in South Park and have chickens. 7 hens. I know my neighbor has some too. I've heard 25 is the max and no roosters, but that is up to debate. City ordinace doesn't say anithing about roosters, just about noise. Everyone assumes roosters are not allowed but if you can keep them quiet? If the neighbors don't complain? We have hawks and black birds and AIRPLANES.

 

[RMDelete]

Wow... now I am kinda worried..

my Sister (the one who's house I am normally keeping my baby chickens at) is located in Serra Mesa, I am not entirely sure what part of San Diego that would be considered, incorporated or unincorporated or just plain old San Diego? Her yard is very spacious but I am sure it is very shy of 50 possibly 40 feet -..- their neighbor to their left (east of them) is a very VERY nice guy who is friendly and easy going, however their neighbor to their right is a sour mean grumpy man in his late 40s who I am guessing just hasn't had much luck with people and just dislikes children... he has had his boat parked out front for years and never moved it and when I parked my car in front of his house right behind his boat because there was no parking anywhere and I asked it if was OK he said "NO" even though law requires people who own boats to move them 200 feet every 72 hours and he never complied... I am afraid he wont like the chicken idea even though they would make literally little to no noise compared to all the other noises

I don't think anyone else in the neighborhood would mind but if anyone did complain, it would likely be him.

Gah this stinks!

Can someone tell me what Serra mesa is considered? Incorporated, unincorporated? OR just San Diego? SO I can look into things better? That neighbor is mean... and I don't know why... but at least I want to be prepared if something happens. I know of another place I can move my babies to if push comes to shove.

 

[desertdarlene]

Serra Mesa is considered part of the city of San Diego. I would measure her yard just for piece of mind. Otherwise, don't do anything that will draw attention to the chicks (such as building a coop).

 

[RMDelete]

I measured her backyard via google earth and it appears to be shy of 45 feet :\\ now I am considering doing a followup on that Special Permit clause tsk tsk... if only people could get along...

 

[mrsbrcant]

Keep the birds on the side of the yard away from the intolerant neighbor with the boat and if he ever raises the issue of illegal chickens, just offer to ignore his code violations if he will ignore yours.

 

[RMDelete]

lol yeah good point

I would seriously consider that if this crazy dude didn't honestly truly believe that he owned the sidewalk in front of his house hahaha

and I know he's not the only homeowner that feels that way! Some people just think that when they buy a property it automatically includes whatever sidewalk lies in front of it... hence he refused to move his boat for over three years and until recently (about a month now) I think he finally sold his boat so now it's not there anymore :\\ so that excuse is gone now with it... yet he nobody even dares park in front of his house because he is soo unfriendly.

Meh if push comes to shove I can take them elsewhere... I devised a plan to eventually re-condition a playhouse into a type of chicken coop so if he ever looked over he would probably not know the difference since we do have two kids living in that home. Maybe one day we can find a way to befriend him, but as of now he is just some ungrateful person who thinks he owns the world.

 

[desertdarlene]

If you can move them elsewhere, then I agree with what Mrsbrcant said and just keep them on the other side from his property. If he ever does raise any complaint, then "make them disappear" for a while and bring them back.

In the meantime, I would discreetly look into what it takes to get a special permit to keep them, legal. Just don't let the city know that you already have the chickens, not even a hint or they may just check up on you.

ETA (and a little off-topic): You are allowed to park your car anywhere you want to as long as there's not a red curb or a no parking sign, he can't really do anything about it, legally. I don't get it with these people who tell you not to park in front of their houses, especially in a very urban area like Serra Mesa. But, be careful, I think there was a case in town where a guy, who acted a lot like the neighbor you described, ended up murdering someone because he didn't like them parking in front of his house. The neighbors said that everyone knew not to park in front of his home because he was crazy. But, in that case, it was shown that the victim kinda went out of his way to aggravate the guy and blatantly and flagrantly ignored his requests to stop parking in front of his house. Doesn't make it right, but there sure are a lot of crazy people hanging on a thread.

 

[RMDelete]

wow! I have heard of crazy people, I suppose some take the cake! These people who think they own everything are everywhere too though, even my other Sister in Rancho Penasquitos has some neighbor who gripes and moans about one of her roomates who parks their car between the homes on a little space between both houses' driveways, he yells at the poor roomie claiming that IF he happens to hit the car while backing out of his own driveway one day then it will be that roomate's own fault -..- sheeesh... in what light does that even make any sense to someone? Well unfortunately that roomate knows "better" and is still parking there from time to time... other times visitors park there but really?? crazy! Yeah I am trying to do my homework too on this one

first I will see about neighboring areas in the Serra Mesa area and then when I find out if they can issue me some kind of permit I can simply say I am moving over to my Sister's place maybe.

Another idea I had was maybe playing a game with the evil neighbor and claim the chickens to be an FFA or 4H project for the children and when the time does come around and fair time is over I will just tell him that they were allowed to keep them. Hopefully if he is nice enough to allow the kids to have them due to educational purposes and we offer him a couple of eggs in the near future he will maybe grow some kind of heart...

why can't we all just get along?!