Virginia government prosecutes homeowner with criminal charges for backyard chickens

Its illegal to have Chickens, period, in Hampton, VA, which I think is rediculous!! Started a petition today: http://www.change.org/petitions/cit...s-without-distance-from-dwelling-restrictions

 

It is not illegal to have chickens, however they currently have a large setback but no limit on chickens or roosters as long you dont get smell or noise complaints

 

I wonder how often this type event would occur if said "official" had to stand on his own two feet while "enforcing" his Gestapo garbage. I figure it would be nipped in the bud if they didn't have other minions in their corner to back them up. Five minutes of whack-a-mole with a pick handle and he'd find a real job.

 

I can kind of see the town's point of view. Even if she is St. Chicken Cleaner and manages to keep 22 chickens in town with no complaints it then sets a dangerous precedent for people with 8,000 sq lots having an entire farm and not taking care of it. If she only had a half dozen chooks I wonder if they would have taken as much offense.

 

Free ranging 22 hens in a backyard in town? No wonder the Zoning Board went after her.

I tire of the "Chicken Owner Right, Everyone Else Wrong" mentality. This chicken owner is clearly in the wrong and is a nuisance to her neighbor by ignoring the zoning regulations.