This doesn't sound promising. Wilmington Ma

[detz]

From the zoning bylaws.

"Agriculture - Cultivating and harvesting general crops and market gardens including
the storage of necessary farm equipment, and, if upon more than five acres, a farm for
the raising of cattle horses, sheep, goats and poultry and a farmstand for the sale of
farm products grown in the Town of, or towns contiguous to, Wilmington."


the "if upon more than five acres" is what has been worried. We have like 1/4 acre lot. Am i reading this right that we cant have chickens?

 

[detz]

I found this in the animal document which sounds promising. Since we're not going to eat them they might be considered a domestic pet.


Section 7  Animals
7.1  No person shal keep any animal without first obtaining a permit from the Board of Health (the Board). No  person shal keep  any animals without an  adequate stable, barn, or other shelter approved by the Board of Health.
This shal not apply to dogs which need to be licensed by the Town Clerk, and this shal not apply to domestic pets. The  Board  shal maintain  authority to determine  what constitutes a  domestic pet. An  animal raised  or kept for consumption or for a commercial purpose wil not be considered to be a domestic pet.
7.2  No person shal allow any animal to roam free.
7.3  No person shal keep any swine, or any rooster.
7.4  No person shal keep more than six  cats over the  age of six (6) months at a residential premises without
first obtaining a permit from the Board. No person shal feed any feral cat or contribute in any way to the support of a 
feral cat population. The penalty for violation of this subsection is $10.00, each day constituting a separate violation.
7.5  No person shal keep  a  horse or pony without a stable  approved  by the Board. A stable shal meet the 
fol owing minimum criteria:

 

[detz]

So I heard back and I have to fill out a form that contains the following:

1. The name, address, and contact information of the property owner and applicant if different.
2. The types and numbers of animals for which the permit is requested.
3. A plot plan showing the property to be used.
4. The location of any proposed structure, stable, shelter, corral, pen, cage or other animal housing.
5. Any wells, drains, culverts, and wetlands and waterways within 100 feet of the location where animals are proposed to be kept.
6. A plan for feed storage and sanitary maintenance.
7. The fee required in Section 18 of this Code of Regulations.
8. A certified list of direct abutters, including those directly and diagonally across the street.

They said they then send letters to my neighbors to see if there are objections and have a hearing about it. If it's voted in I then need yearly inspections with a $40 fee. Is this normal?

 

[RichnSteph]

For the love of God what a mess. You must really really want chickens.


Good luck!
RichnSteph

 

[gawildlife]

I think you need to immigrate to America, we're running a get in free special right now.

 

[CoffeeNChicks]

"For the love of God what a mess."

"I think you need to immigrate to America"



Solid responses! Get the heck outta there

 

[Dundeechicken]

Did you end up getting approved? I also live in Wilmington and was considering getting chickens. Who did you contact?

 

[detz]

Yup,

There are 39 (now 40) permits for chickens in Wilmington. I think the board of health understands that they're not bad since there has never been a complaint. You basically just have to pay the $40 fee and they send out letters to you neighbors and then you have to show up to the hearing and state your case. If no neighbors complain they'll approve you right away but in my case it was almost an hour of discussion since two families shows up to fight it.

Read this thread:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...s-and-10-others-are-against-our-coop-any-tips