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

[CoastalChick]

I think the urban ag issue is suppose to be voted on at the end of this month by city council?

 

[Chris in South Park]

Yes, the full city council will have a public hearing and vote on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 2:00 pm, everyone please show up at the hearing and simply fill out a support slip and place it in the inbox at the front of the seating area. If you have been wanting to get chickens legal in SD, now is the time to make the effort to get downtown on the 31st and give the council an idea of the support we have.

 

[longday]

Hi, I'm new here, and am just about to get two chickens this weekend (right after I finish building the coop!), but I stumbled on this forum and hope I can find a place here.

After reading Chris's post on the public hearing, I contacted one of the employees associated with the hearing to ask if I can support without attending. His response:

"Yes you can send an email to the City Clerk and to the City Council Members. I suggest you place Urban Agriculture City Council hearing in the subject box. The e-mails follow:

[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

Thank you for your support..."

I'm off to email them now, and hope that others do likewise.

LD

 

[Chris in South Park]

Hello Longday, welcome

Thank you for posting the contact info for the council, everyone should make use of this to at least get your rep an idea of your stance, however, sending emails to the council unfortunately will not carry the same weight or importance as showing up at the hearing and filling out a support slip for submission, or better yet, speaking. The council will read these support slips out loud at the hearing, acknowledging your name and in essence giving it a quasi-vote status. They will - and do - notice numbers in support in attendance. Emails rarely get even noticed much less mentioned.

I do want to emphasize that if any of you are in San Diego and want chickens now is your time to get up and act - if you can somehow find it in yourself to rise up and do something please show up at this important vote on Tuesday, Jan 31, 2:00 pm, city council chambers.

This is the last step in our long process, many have worked very hard to get to this day - please attend.

 

[longday]

Thanks for the explanation. Unfortunately I have to work, so can't attend. I did receive an acknowledgement from one email recipient, so I hope it helps at least a little.

Will the decision be made today, and if so, can someone post the result here please?

Thanks for the welcome.
LD

 

[MissusC]

The changes passed!! I just got back from the City Council meeting and the vote to change the Urban Ag law was unanimous! Now I can get up to 5 chickens in my mira mesa yard!

 

[MissusC]

Here was the information with the changes for today's docket. http://dockets.sandiego.gov/sirepub/pubmtgframe.aspx?meetid=1306&doctype=Agenda

I am not sure how long it takes to be effective.

 

[dogdoc]

Yay! Thanks for the update, as I couldn't attend.

I thought the issue of distance from the house was going to be brought up, but as far as I can make out, it looks like the minimum distance is still 50 feet? But I'm glad the proposed stuff went through unanimously

According to this, it sounds like the ordinance will go into effect in about two months:
http://sdfoodpolicy.org/downloads/UA_FAQ_2012_01_31_City_Council.pdf

In summary:
Council would vote again in 2 weeks, which should be uneventful unless something new happens.
Then the mayor has 10 days to either sign it or veto it.
If it's not vetoed, then it goes into effect 30 days later if not vetoed.
So if the mayor signs it as soon as it hits his desk, the soonest would be a month and a half .

 

[longday]

Great news! Correct me if I'm wrong, but dogdoc, the 50ft rule only applies if you wish to keep 16-25 chickens. 15 chickens can be kept as long as they are minimum 15ft away from boundary fences, and 5 chickens can be kept anywhere on the property as long as they are beyond the set back.

LD

 

[dogdoc]

Great news! Correct me if I'm wrong, but dogdoc, the 50ft rule only applies if you wish to keep 16-25 chickens. 15 chickens can be kept as long as they are minimum 15ft away from boundary fences, and 5 chickens can be kept anywhere on the property as long as they are beyond the set back.

LD

oh SWEET! I needed an interpreter for the sixty zillion references to section this and article that. When you say 5 chickens may be kept "anywhere", does that really mean ANYWHERE? Like, less than 15 ft from the house? The only space we have for the small coop I'm planning will be about 10-15 feet from the house.

Thanks!
Jo