- Aug 12, 2013
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Calling all residents of Baltimore County, Maryland!
After years of being ignored by our elected County Council, it now appears that we may at long last have an opportunity to get these backyard chicken restrictions removed. The County Council is considering a bill that would require the Planning Board to study the entire range of livestock restrictions in residential areas, in light of recent changes in numerous other jurisdictions, and make recommendations. The three co-sponsors of this legislation are generally in favor of backyard poultry, and with a seven-person Council, that means only one more vote would be needed to get a much-needed change to the restrictions.
This legislation is Resolution 73-13, and can be viewed here.
Baltimore County residents can do FOUR things to help make this change a reality:
FIRST: Immediately contact your County Council representative, and let them know you support this legislation, because you believe that the current prohibition against backyard poultry is not justified, and would like to see it repealed or revised. Not sure who your Council rep is? Go here and enter your address, then click here to find your rep’s email address and phone number. This is the most important action you can take. Tell them you want to know what their position is, and will expect them to follow up with you based on the outcome of the Planning Board report. Regardless of their position, it will make a big impression on them that you cared enough to take the time to contact them.
SECOND: If possible, come to the Council work session on this bill on Tuesday, August 22, at 2:00 pm, at 400 Washington Ave., Second Floor, in Towson, MD. It would be great to have 5-10 people from across the county speak for 2 or 3 minutes each. But we would also like to have many more supporters just show up, so that when we ask for a show of hands by district, we can demonstrate that there are many supporters. This is early in the process, so we don’t want to look like a bunch of crazies, but do want to show that we are articulate, intelligent, and have broad support. I doubt there are many opponents of the bill who will bother to show up.
THIRD: Go to the Facebook page “Change the zoning laws in Baltimore Co. for chickens and small livestock” to stay current on this and related issues.
FOURTH: Spread the word – get your neighbors and friends from all parts of Baltimore County to help by taking these four steps themselves.
After years of being ignored by our elected County Council, it now appears that we may at long last have an opportunity to get these backyard chicken restrictions removed. The County Council is considering a bill that would require the Planning Board to study the entire range of livestock restrictions in residential areas, in light of recent changes in numerous other jurisdictions, and make recommendations. The three co-sponsors of this legislation are generally in favor of backyard poultry, and with a seven-person Council, that means only one more vote would be needed to get a much-needed change to the restrictions.
This legislation is Resolution 73-13, and can be viewed here.
Baltimore County residents can do FOUR things to help make this change a reality:
FIRST: Immediately contact your County Council representative, and let them know you support this legislation, because you believe that the current prohibition against backyard poultry is not justified, and would like to see it repealed or revised. Not sure who your Council rep is? Go here and enter your address, then click here to find your rep’s email address and phone number. This is the most important action you can take. Tell them you want to know what their position is, and will expect them to follow up with you based on the outcome of the Planning Board report. Regardless of their position, it will make a big impression on them that you cared enough to take the time to contact them.
SECOND: If possible, come to the Council work session on this bill on Tuesday, August 22, at 2:00 pm, at 400 Washington Ave., Second Floor, in Towson, MD. It would be great to have 5-10 people from across the county speak for 2 or 3 minutes each. But we would also like to have many more supporters just show up, so that when we ask for a show of hands by district, we can demonstrate that there are many supporters. This is early in the process, so we don’t want to look like a bunch of crazies, but do want to show that we are articulate, intelligent, and have broad support. I doubt there are many opponents of the bill who will bother to show up.
THIRD: Go to the Facebook page “Change the zoning laws in Baltimore Co. for chickens and small livestock” to stay current on this and related issues.
FOURTH: Spread the word – get your neighbors and friends from all parts of Baltimore County to help by taking these four steps themselves.
