Wanting to Change the Chicken Ordance in Elwood, IN!

[Sajaha]

Hello everyone!
So I am in need of resources, ideas, ANY info. & help about changing the the chicken ordnance in Elwood, Indiana. We have had chickens here since April 2009. We live right next to Calaway Park, which is around 40 acres of park. We have always taken good care of our chickens, and have let anyone who is interested in them check them out. Many times we have let families and individuals hold our chickens when they have seen them from the park. We're happy to educate and let people know how easy and fun it is to raise chickens.
The problem - This year our neighbors decided to get chickens. Someone who has a problem with them called the commissioner and left two (strange) complaints on the answering machine after hours. Because of this, we have come up on the radar. The commissioner is a nice guy and wants to work with us so that we can keep our chickens. He stopped by and let us know that it is illegal for us to have chickens in town, but that he's not going to make us get rid of them right away. He personally thinks we should be able to keep them, but it's not up to him. This is exactly why we have been so public with our chickens next to the park, allowing people to hold them and talk chicken. For over a year it has not been a problem (and still isn't, just that it's against the law.) The commissioner said that we could apply for an ordnance, which would cost us $100. He did tell me that someone did this not to long ago for their chickens. He also told me that there are other people in town illegally keeping chickens that he has to talk to now. Our family (and others) would like to not just have to apply for an ordnance thing, but change the law so that others can have their backyard chickens! Our case is special and a big plus, considering that we've live right next to the park for over a year, and we've never had anyone unhappy with our hens. I'm considering talking to the news paper in town, and will probably be going to the ordnance board meeting next month well educated.

Thanks for any feed back fellow chicken lovers!!

 

[ADozenGirls]

Here are some links that might help in your crusade:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=316045

http://www.scribd.com/doc/16509728/Changing-Your-Citys-Chicken-Laws

http://urbanchickens.org/blog/need-help-getting-chicken-ordinances-changed

http://www.sailzora.com/SoPoChickens.htm

http://www.madcitychickens.com/


Good luck!

 

[Hippie-Witch]

Hey neighbor! I just stumbled across this trying to find resources. The Hubs is going to call the man he spoke to from Purdue University on Monday, he should have some great input for our cause! Thanks for the links ADozenGirls!
Hippie

 

[Bobbiw2]

Hello

I realize that this is a very old thread, but I am hoping that there is some newer information on this subject.

My husband and I are planning to retire to Elwood. We are in the process of completing the purchase of 5 acres there. Unfortunately, we learned of the chicken ban after we signed a contract on the property.

I have been searching for some positive information concerning the "chicken ban". I am certainly hoping that it has been dropped. I would like to have some other animals, but the chickens are at the top of my list. I guess that we just assumed that a 5 acre plot with barns and fenced pasture would be open to the keeping of livestock/chickens.

I sent an email to the animal control officer, hoping that they could provide me with some current information...but I have yet to receive a response.

Does anyone have any information on this matter, including contact names? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Maybe we should have chosen to stay in Ohio?????

Thanks
Bobbiw2

 

[new 2 pfowl]

Hello there Bobbiw,
I don't know if this is the latest information, but according to ordinances that appear on the Ellwood website right now (http://elwoodcity-in.org/government/public-records/), still no chickens "or any other species of fowl" within city limits...

(sorry this is hard to read - you can see it on the website too)

 

[Bobbiw2]

Thanks new 2 pfowl

Unfortunately that is the latest information that I can locate. I was certainly hoping that there was something more current than that.

Can you imagine a small town that will not allow chickens, yet there are many large metropolitan areas that are encouraging the keeping of backyard chickens? I would say that they have their heads in the sand, but that would be quite offensive to the poor ostrich species!

I am moving from a small lot in the middle of a large metropolis (Columbus, OH) where I am legally able to keep chickens, to a 5 acre rural lot in a small town (Elwood, IN) where I am not legally allowed to keep chickens...go figure!!! Let this be a warning to anyone that is searching for a homestead in rural America...check those zoning laws before you sign a contract on that "perfect" place. It may not be so "perfect" after all.

Bobbiw2

 

[chewyroo]

Hello everyone!

So I am in need of resources, ideas, ANY info. & help about changing the the chicken ordnance in Elwood, Indiana.  We have had chickens here since April 2009.  We live right next to Calaway Park, which is around 40 acres of park.  We have always taken good care of our chickens, and have let anyone who is interested in them check them out.  Many times we have let families and individuals hold our chickens when they have seen them from the park.  We're happy to educate and let people know how easy and fun it is to raise chickens. 

The problem - This year our neighbors decided to get chickens.  Someone who has a problem with them called the commissioner and left two (strange) complaints on the answering machine after hours.  Because of this, we have come up on the radar.  The commissioner is a nice guy and wants to work with us so that we can keep our chickens.  He stopped by and let us know that it is illegal for us to have chickens in town, but that he's not going to make us get rid of them right away.  He personally thinks we should be able to keep them, but it's not up to him.  This is exactly why we have been so public with our chickens next to the park, allowing people to hold them and talk chicken.  For over a year it has not been a problem (and still isn't, just that it's against the law.)  The commissioner said that we could apply for an ordnance, which would cost us $100.  He did tell me that someone did this not to long ago for their chickens.  He also told me that there are other people in town illegally keeping chickens that he has to talk to now.  Our family (and others) would like to not just have to apply for an ordnance thing, but change the law so that others can have their backyard chickens!  Our case is special and a big plus, considering that we've live right next to the park for over a year, and we've never had anyone unhappy with our hens.  I'm considering talking to the news paper in town, and will probably be going to the ordnance board meeting next month well educated.


Thanks for any feed back fellow chicken lovers!!

 

[chewyroo]

I see this is a very old thread and the comments are also over 2 years old was wondering did you have to give up your chickens?