Zoning law requires 3 acres to keep chickens!

[CookiePie]

We have been wanting to get chickens in the future & I have been researching like crazy, I now know what kind of chickens I want & where to get them, & how to care for them. So I just called the city hall since my online searches were coming up dead, I would need 3 acres to legally keep chickens!

What is required to ask my town to change such a law? We live on just over a 1/4 acre. This bums me out more than you know!

Anyone ever have success on this?

TIA

[onthemove]

I don't have any answers but am asking the same question! I sent an email to our city last week asking if I was allowed to have chickens and I would have to move out of the city limits...so I was also wondering if there are any success stories with changing bylaws?

[Arduinna]

You can ask for a variance, you don't need to change the law itself.

[CookiePie]

I found The Right to Farm Law But I don't understand it, anyone better than me at reading legal jargon?

[mattemma04]

Might be able to get a variance.You would probably need to get all close by neighbors to sign off on it,and if there are any complaints EVER they could require you to get rid of them.

Some people keep 2-3 hens in a stealth coop until they are able to move to a property where livestock is legal.

Look on backyard chickens forum in the law section for ideas.

[GardenStream]

I live on 8 acres and I still can't have chickens. Cows and horses are no problem, but chickens aren't allowed. I think I'm just going to go ahead and do it anyway. Nobody can see my back yard and I'm sure my neighbors wouldn't care about a few chickens even if they did find out about them.

We do have exceptions for 4H projects. Are there any exceptions for things like that? I have a kid that will be 4 in a few more months, so a chicken for a 4H project isn't much of a stretch for me.

[CookiePie]

Well we are still in planning stages as we have a doggie that is old. She would still want to make a snack of the chickens. But I'm planning on trying to change things around here. If 4H might help us I would be more than happy to sign up. I have no clue what my chances are, but I just don't get why it is such an issue? DH will not let me sneak & really we shouldn't have to!

[sunny*pa*mom]

Last year two of the local townships changed their ordinances to allow for hens in residential areas. A woman brought the topic up at a local government meeting and they eventually wrote and passed an ordinance (it covers the number of hens, distance from other residences, etc). It happened quickly and most people are supportive.

Here's some sample advice from Urban Chicken.