OK, I KNOW BYC does not condone law breaking!!! Much of the advice in this thread is exactly that.
What can the city do? They can fine you, and they can take you to court. Your neighbors could pursue legal action against you for breaking the law if your birds prove a nuisance and they could pursue legal action against the city for not enforcing its ordinances as well. Fines that are ignored can escalate as well, and you could be sentenced to jail if you ignore court orders.
In MOST, but not all cases, code enforcement works on complaints filed; they usually don't drive around town looking for violations. But an obvious blatant violation may get cited even without a complaint (for example if your birds were on Main Street (or its equivalent for your town), plainly visible from the sidewalk or street).
Your BEST choice is to find out exactly what the legalities are regarding keeping chickens. People that already have them may be grandfathered in, or may be keeping them illegally. Or you may find that keeping a small flock for personal use and as pets is allowed. Just because you are vested in the cost of your coop does not put you in the right either morally or legally. Take the responsibility to find out exactly what is and is not allowed, and any conditions that must be met and follow them. Or decide that the ordinances should be changed and work to make those changes.
What can the city do? They can fine you, and they can take you to court. Your neighbors could pursue legal action against you for breaking the law if your birds prove a nuisance and they could pursue legal action against the city for not enforcing its ordinances as well. Fines that are ignored can escalate as well, and you could be sentenced to jail if you ignore court orders.
In MOST, but not all cases, code enforcement works on complaints filed; they usually don't drive around town looking for violations. But an obvious blatant violation may get cited even without a complaint (for example if your birds were on Main Street (or its equivalent for your town), plainly visible from the sidewalk or street).
Your BEST choice is to find out exactly what the legalities are regarding keeping chickens. People that already have them may be grandfathered in, or may be keeping them illegally. Or you may find that keeping a small flock for personal use and as pets is allowed. Just because you are vested in the cost of your coop does not put you in the right either morally or legally. Take the responsibility to find out exactly what is and is not allowed, and any conditions that must be met and follow them. Or decide that the ordinances should be changed and work to make those changes.
