The Woodlands, Texas...aka. "Stepford Hell"...aka. "The Cult"

[Tpodo]

• I am a resident of The Woodlands and would love to see this restriction changed. I recently purchased 6 pullets for my daughter for her birthday. My husband has a business in Montgomery on 10 acres so we were planning on moving them out there once they get bigger. I would love to keep them here at the house so that my daughter could learn about them and take on the responsibility of caring for them and possibly selling the eggs once they start to lay. She is only 6 but very mature and already waters, feeds, cleans the cage and cares for them daily. Once we move them it would be too hard to take her daily to care for them and the responsibility will lie on my husband. This is not really an issue but if she is going to sell the eggs I want her to share the work. My neighbors are really nice and think the chicks are adorable.. I think I am going to try and keep them as long as I can at the house and perhaps fresh eggs will be enough to keep the neighbors quiet.
  
  Please let me know what you find out.

 

[Ilovemy3babies]

I'm close to the Woodlands live off of 1488 in a subdivision that will allow horses, but not chickens ;(, which makes absolutely no sense what's so ever, ugh.

 

[chicknadventure]

I'm close to the Woodlands live off of 1488 in a subdivision that will allow horses, but not chickens ;(, which makes absolutely no sense what's so ever, ugh.

horses look expensive, chickens look "poor" and country

I used to live in that area, and my cousin lives there now. It IS totally like "Suburgatory" and the crazy neighbor with the gnomes....

 

[Eznet2u]

Reason #10029384 not to live in a HOA controlled neighborhood.

 

[Ilovemy3babies]

Reason #10029384 not to live in a HOA controlled neighborhood.

yep, can't wait to leave, sadly we'll be here for a few years ;9 .

 

[Bloominfoodie]

Wow pictures of your yard? Yikes those are some crazy CC&R's. I have been involved in rule changing RE:chickens in other cities. Here are some suggestions: 1. Find at least 10 other people that would also like to keep chickens and form a group, make a FB page and Tweet, in other words become a presence. 2. Make a reasonable set of rules to propose to your leaders. Fairly standard in most cities that allow is 5 hens, no roos, no slaughtering, some even have breed restrictions as even the hens of some breeds are know to be very, very noisy, yard must be fenced, permission from closest neighbor. Once you have the rules, then start talking to your neighbors, co-workers, people in the grocery, hand out fliers extolling the virtues of back-yard flocks all before you approach the leaders about change. Create a groundswell of support for chickens befrie you even ask. 3. Know the players, find out all you can about each of the leaders and determine who will be most likely to support change and work with them. It is a lot of work but worth it in the end. If you present a well thought out reasoned plan with community support instead a gripe you will get a lot farther.

 

[topdycke]

I probably live in the same subdivision as you Ilovemy3babies, or next to it. Yes, we can have horses - the HOA must approve the barn and fence design but other livestock except for FFA/4H are not allowed. It would be nice to have a set of rules that allows for small flocks in these areas.The Woodlands is a whole 'nother world where they do indeed send pics of your infractions. Most places have a don't ask don't tell attitude.

 

[punk-a-doodle]

Reason #10029384 not to live in a HOA controlled neighborhood.

x about a million

 

[vister72]

[COLOR=000000]So as you can guess by the thread title I am living in a bureaucratic nightmare and have no idea how effect change in my community. The Woodlands (suburb of Houston) is known for being overly zealous in their enforcement of its covenants. It's not uncommon to receive actual photos of your front or back yard containing what they deem as an "infraction". They claim to be a "green" or "sustainable" community...now forcing us to take on another 90 gallon "recycle only" trash can...yet the idea of owning a few laying hens for fresh eggs is completely foreign to them.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=000000]Are there any other Woodlands residents out there that would like to work with me to help change the rules?[/COLOR]

[COLOR=000000]Here is where we stand thus far....[/COLOR]

[COLOR=231F20][COLOR=231F20][COLOR=231F20]Section 10.03: Keeping of Animals on Lots.[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]​

[COLOR=231F20][COLOR=231F20][COLOR=231F20]No animals, except customary household pets, shall be kept or[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]​

[COLOR=231F20][COLOR=231F20][COLOR=231F20]maintained on any Lot except as specifically authorized by WCA. No animal shall be allowed[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]​

[COLOR=231F20][COLOR=231F20][COLOR=231F20]or permitted on any portion of the Property except the Lot of its owner unless same shall be[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]​

[COLOR=231F20][COLOR=231F20][COLOR=231F20]under the control of the owner or another person by leash, rope, chain, or other restraining[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]​

[COLOR=231F20][COLOR=231F20][COLOR=231F20]device; provided, however, that no animal shall be allowed on any Lot without the permission[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]​

[COLOR=231F20][COLOR=231F20][COLOR=231F20]of the owner of that Lot. WCA shall have authority to seize and impound any animal on the[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]​

[COLOR=231F20][COLOR=231F20][COLOR=231F20]Property in violation of this Section or the regulations established hereunder. WCA shall have[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]​

[COLOR=231F20][COLOR=231F20][COLOR=231F20]authority to impose reasonable fees for animal registration or other animal control services,[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]​

[COLOR=231F20][COLOR=231F20][COLOR=231F20]and to impose reasonable regulations setting forth the type and number of animals that may be[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]​

[COLOR=231F20][COLOR=231F20][COLOR=231F20]kept on any Lot, and providing a method for disposing of animals which are unclaimed after a[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]​

[COLOR=231F20][COLOR=231F20][COLOR=231F20]reasonable period of time. No dog or cat over six months of age shall be kept by any Resident[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]​

[COLOR=231F20][COLOR=231F20][COLOR=231F20]unless such animal shall have a current rabies inoculation.[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]

[COLOR=231F20][COLOR=231F20][COLOR=231F20]Thanks,[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]
FF

 

[vister72]

I live in the woodlands and would like to see this ordinance changed as well. Please pm me. I'd like to help petition this.