What is the next step when your city law is....?

[vjbakke]

I have looked up the laws in my city and chickens are illegal here

I don't know who from the city I should contact first? I have read in some cities chickens are illegal but tolerated as long as your neighbors are ok with them. I only want 5-6 hens, I really want to make this happen. I live in a small town in MN. Thanks!

Here is the law right from my cities government pages "Section 9.54. Animals and Fowl-Keeping, Housing, Treatment, Restraint, Confinement and Trespasses.

Subd. 1. Definition. For purposes of this section, the term "animals" means cattle, horses, mules, sheep, goats, swine, ponies, ducks, geese, turkeys, chickens, guinea hens, and all other animals and feathered fowl except dogs and cats, unless such pets are specifically included in particular subdivisions hereof.



Subd. 2. Keeping. It is unlawful for any person to keep any animal, not in transit, in any part of the City not zoned for agricultural purposes.

What do we do next? Get a permit? From What I can tell we are in the zoning area for general buisess or posibly right on the edge of residential and general business. We have and auto repair and hair solon across the street from our house and a grain feed mill across the other street.

 

[Laigaie]

I would suggest calling your local Animal Services Division. They're probably part of your police force, or they may be a separate entity. Anyway, they'll let you know whether the laws regarding chickens are enforced. If they are enforced, you'll have to propose a new ordinance replacing the one that outlaws chickens. If they aren't, talk to your neighbors, and there's a good chance nobody will mind.

 

[vjbakke]

Thanks, I will find out what is the right person in that "dept" to contact.

 

[jaj121159]

I would contact your local zoning administrator. Chances are if they are not allowed it is a zoning regulation. The zoning administrator enforces the zoning ordinances.

 

[Markp1964]

Check what the language in the law says-in my city agriculture is banned. No mention of specific practices or animals. I was also told that "they" don't come looking for you-they work on complaints. So a quiet smell free operation will be under their radar.

 

[vjbakke]

This is how our city ordinances on chickens state-

" Section 9.54. Animals and Fowl-Keeping, Housing, Treatment, Restraint, Confinement and Trespasses.

Subd. 1. Definition. For purposes of this section, the term "animals" means cattle, horses, mules, sheep, goats, swine, ponies, ducks, geese, turkeys, chickens, guinea hens, and all other animals and feathered fowl except dogs and cats, unless such pets are specifically included in particular subdivisions hereof.

08/13/09 THIS PAGE REPLACES PAGE 9-12

Subd. 2. Keeping. It is unlawful for any person to keep any animal, not in transit, in any part of the City not zoned for agricultural purposes."

Does this mean that we would need to aply for a variance? I checked to see that our property is zoned as residential. I don't know what our next step should be? I spoke with the chief of police and he didn't seem to even know what law I was talking about.

 

[vjbakke]

We are seriously considering just going ahead and getting some. I would like to follow the law or get a permit if needed. I have heard variances are expensive, anyone know about permits?

 

[confusedturtle]

Iam trying to get a permit for raising chickens as well, my local law says:
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep in any building or on any premises within the limits of the city any livestock or poultry without a permit issued by the director of public health. Such permit shall designate the location at which said animals shall be kept and the number of animals to be kept at said location.

To me it means I can request a permit from the public health dept as long as I let them know where the chickens will be kept, a good description of their coop (so they know Im not a psycho chicken fighter) how they will be raised and tended to, the number of chickens I would like to raise, the size of my yard and the area alloted to the chickens and I also plan to put something in the letter about the benefits of raising chickens and having fresh eggs and also a letter from my neighbors on each side of my home stating that they dont care if I raise chickens. Not sure if it will work but its worth a try.

 

[vjbakke]

I was told by the city planner that there is no way to get a permit or variance. We got chicks anyways, from what I hear around town the law is not enforced unless complaints are made.

 

[Dobela]

It may also very from street to street in your town. When we lived in the city limits, our neighborhood was very strictly no animals other than cats/dogs and then no more than 5 per property. A dear friend of mine lived about 3 miles away in an older neighborhood (ie started before 1930) and in her neighborhood, chickens were allowed - hens only, no roos, and must be clean. It had something to do with how the city was divided as well.