City Issued a Citation and claims we aren’t allowed to have chickens due to neighbor’s complaint. What are my options?

[cassie]

If rats are the problem, you have to get rid of them first thing. However, no matter what you do, go to the local law library and look up the codes yourself. There has to be one in your community. It may take some research to find out where it is. If nothing else, call any attorney's office and ask them. Insist the officials give you the code numbers of the ordinances they are citing you under. I have found that what an official, any official, tells me what the law is, is not necessarily what the law in fact actually is. By the way, I have found that reference librarians at the law library are very helpful.

 

[All4Eggz]

Hi, I haven’t updated in a while.

So I have been spreading the word and having people send letters to his email. We have a couple months since the hearing(s) (hopefully) in august/sept.

Public support will be crucial in this case…

 

[Nym]

Hi, I haven’t updated in a while.


View attachment 3898954
So I have been spreading the word and having people send letters to his email. We have a couple months since the hearing(s) (hopefully) in august/sept.

Public support will be crucial in this case…

Cheers for the update. All the best of outcomes to you and your family.

 

[All4Eggz]

I don’t know if people are still following this thread…
I’m not on here much anymore, but I thought I’d update.

It’s been so long without chickens and it’s truly been hard. Most of the ones I had to give to friends and family are still doing good. My silkie passed from unknown causes but other than that the rest are doing fine as far as I’m aware. I’m okay with starting fresh because I know they’re all at good homes. I do have the ability to take any back, though, so I can probably take a few of my favorites back when we get back chickens. And I say “when” because I’m determined to getting them back.

The hearing never happened. Following the planned month of the hearing, I sought updates from the city council member who was helping me. I got no responses for the last few months. Something hit me late last night and I decided to try again to contact him.

And I do have some good news…

If he didn’t respond again I was genuinely ready to just take a few chickens home and hope they are quiet enough. It’s been months since we lost our whole flock so I figured if they are quiet enough it wouldn’t be a big problem. No sign of rats. We miss fresh eggs from our backyard. We’re now buying from a farm and it can get pricey.

But he did actually respond this morning.

I’m overjoyed to know it’s still “on the table” after all this time. I’m glad he didn’t throw it away and he is still thinking about it and working on it. This is great news. Spring is coming and maybe some chickens are too.

Thanks for all the help you all have contributed, I will keep you all updated.

 

[tripletfeb]

I don’t know if people are still following this thread…
I’m not on here much anymore, but I thought I’d update.

It’s been so long without chickens and it’s truly been hard. Most of the ones I had to give to friends and family are still doing good. My silkie passed from unknown causes but other than that the rest are doing fine as far as I’m aware. I’m okay with starting fresh because I know they’re all at good homes. I do have the ability to take any back, though, so I can probably take a few of my favorites back when we get back chickens. And I say “when” because I’m determined to getting them back.

The hearing never happened. Following the planned month of the hearing, I sought updates from the city council member who was helping me. I got no responses for the last few months. Something hit me late last night and I decided to try again to contact him.

And I do have some good news…

If he didn’t respond again I was genuinely ready to just take a few chickens home and hope they are quiet enough. It’s been months since we lost our whole flock so I figured if they are quiet enough it wouldn’t be a big problem. No sign of rats. We miss fresh eggs from our backyard. We’re now buying from a farm and it can get pricey.

But he did actually respond this morning.

View attachment 4072244
I’m overjoyed to know it’s still “on the table” after all this time. I’m glad he didn’t throw it away and he is still thinking about it and working on it. This is great news. Spring is coming and maybe some chickens are too.

Thanks for all the help you all have contributed, I will keep you all updated.

Based on that response from him, I would wait to get any more chickens, at least until you hear from him. He is going to be less likely to help you if you went ahead and got the chickens "behind his back" so to speak

 

[All4Eggz]

Based on that response from him, I would wait to get any more chickens, at least until you hear from him. He is going to be less likely to help you if you went ahead and got the chickens "behind his back" so to speak

Well yes. I was afraid I wouldn’t get a response again after feeling ignored for the last few months. I’m just saying if he didn’t respond this time around I would have had no hope and would have probably took matters into my own hands and get the chickens back and hope for he best.
The fact he responded and it is still actively in the works means there is hope. And not just for me- this could change a lot for hundreds if not thousands across town.

 

[tripletfeb]

Well yes. I was afraid I wouldn’t get a response again after feeling ignored for the last few months. I’m just saying if he didn’t respond this time around I would have had no hope and would have probably took matters into my own hands and get the chickens back and hope for he best.
The fact he responded and it is still actively in the works means there is hope. And not just for me- this could change a lot for hundreds if not thousands across town.

I'm glad he responded to you and so fast this time

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Hey, Ben, that sounds hopeful, doesn't it! Thanks for the update, I've been wondering from time to time if there was any update on this matter. I know how important your chickens are to you so I really hope this works out in your favor. Best wishes!

 

[EdgeC]

I don’t know if people are still following this thread…
I’m not on here much anymore, but I thought I’d update.

It’s been so long without chickens and it’s truly been hard. Most of the ones I had to give to friends and family are still doing good. My silkie passed from unknown causes but other than that the rest are doing fine as far as I’m aware. I’m okay with starting fresh because I know they’re all at good homes. I do have the ability to take any back, though, so I can probably take a few of my favorites back when we get back chickens. And I say “when” because I’m determined to getting them back.

The hearing never happened. Following the planned month of the hearing, I sought updates from the city council member who was helping me. I got no responses for the last few months. Something hit me late last night and I decided to try again to contact him.

And I do have some good news…

If he didn’t respond again I was genuinely ready to just take a few chickens home and hope they are quiet enough. It’s been months since we lost our whole flock so I figured if they are quiet enough it wouldn’t be a big problem. No sign of rats. We miss fresh eggs from our backyard. We’re now buying from a farm and it can get pricey.

But he did actually respond this morning.

View attachment 4072244
I’m overjoyed to know it’s still “on the table” after all this time. I’m glad he didn’t throw it away and he is still thinking about it and working on it. This is great news. Spring is coming and maybe some chickens are too.

Thanks for all the help you all have contributed, I will keep you all updated.

Sounds like the perfect reason to start a revolution! (Joking... or am I )

 

[NatJ]

I don’t know if people are still following this thread…
I’m not on here much anymore, but I thought I’d update.

It’s been so long without chickens and it’s truly been hard. Most of the ones I had to give to friends and family are still doing good. My silkie passed from unknown causes but other than that the rest are doing fine as far as I’m aware. I’m okay with starting fresh because I know they’re all at good homes. I do have the ability to take any back, though, so I can probably take a few of my favorites back when we get back chickens. And I say “when” because I’m determined to getting them back.

The hearing never happened. Following the planned month of the hearing, I sought updates from the city council member who was helping me. I got no responses for the last few months. Something hit me late last night and I decided to try again to contact him.

And I do have some good news…

If he didn’t respond again I was genuinely ready to just take a few chickens home and hope they are quiet enough. It’s been months since we lost our whole flock so I figured if they are quiet enough it wouldn’t be a big problem. No sign of rats. We miss fresh eggs from our backyard. We’re now buying from a farm and it can get pricey.

But he did actually respond this morning.

View attachment 4072244
I’m overjoyed to know it’s still “on the table” after all this time. I’m glad he didn’t throw it away and he is still thinking about it and working on it. This is great news. Spring is coming and maybe some chickens are too.

Thanks for all the help you all have contributed, I will keep you all updated.

Thank you for updating!