Get a dozen chickens and keep them in the coop and run, thats not outside... Then let them out an hour before dark nobody will see them.
Gary
Gary
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We live in an HOA neighborhood as well, and I hate it. When we were looking for a house, we were moving from out of state and had looked at tons of houses online, then flew out and had one week to make a decision. All the non HOA houses either were in horrible condition, or were in a really junky neighborhood (picture car graveyards and broken lawnmowers collections). There were not many options at the time to begin with. We found this place with 6 acres, and an HOA. We did the same as you and pored over the covenant. It was fairly vague, but did not say no poultry. We had the same rules about approval for everything that was going to be built through the ARC and it must match the house. Nothing can be visible from the road, but you can't build a fence as they wanted the "natural" look. The house had great tree cover, but we didn't realize that in the fall and winter, you could see our entire back yard from the road...there are not enough evergreens.
No one has complained about our coop so far, but it is hidden in a little grove of trees. We have to plant some more evergreens. I despise the idea that someone else can decide what can or can't be in my backyard. We don't have the option of moving again this soon, and I really do love the property.
HOA is a fancy re-name for communism. Fascist ugly Americans dictating to other Americans, telling them what the can and can't do with their private property.Couldn't agree more.
HOAs are for people that are so worried about what their neighbors are doing that they'll willingly give up their freedoms to make sure everyone else has none either.
I also live in C/FL. I know the mentality of our local population.Take that, HOA.
HOA is a fancy re-name for communism. Fascist ugly Americans dictating to other Americans, telling them what the can and can't do with their private property.
We left our fascist deed restricted property behind and moved Rural. We were not even allowed to use a clothes line to dry our clothes. Cowards would leave notes in our mailbox warning us of our infractions- which is a Federal offense btw.
To get away with having chickens, we joined a 4-H club. Hung the permit on our modest little coop. Code enforcement was called, saw the permit and said we were with in the law and said nice chickens you have there.lol. Then our coward Nazi neighbor was hopping our fence and stealing our permit copy and recalling code enforcement. We finally caught them on camera and we called the Sheriff showed them the video. It stopped.
A couple years later we left the Nazi neighborhood.
America, the land of the free.. sure, as long as your neighbors say it's alright to be free.
We are out in the boonies now. Far from the busy bodies and folks without anything better to do but try to dictate what other people can and cannot do.
HOAs are horrible. I can't think of one time I have heard a good story about one. Glad you got out of there. Are you able to move the coop? I hope so. Only 3 voters (SMH). Personally I can't see paying a mortgage, taxes and insurance. Then adding fees on top to have someone tell me what I can and can't do with my property. Good luck with Chicken Farm Acres.
For real. I'm beyond over it. I'm keeping the coop in my backyard for now. Our HOA has next to nothing as far as funds to enforce anything, so it'll take them a long time before they will really "do" anything. The coop can be moved if/when they really get serious about me being in violation. We're having our land cleared this week and I plan on fencing in one of the acres for the chickens.
Thank God I don’t live in a town with an HOA, but it feels like it sometimes. “Oh you have chickens let’s call the health department on you.” “Oh you have a cockerel let’s call the health department on you without asking talking with you” “Oh you’re composting on your property? Let’s call the health department on you and then send you a letter saying that we didn’t mean to make you give up your chickens we just didn’t like you composting on your property.” People in my town are snoopy bastards and always looking for a chance to call the cops or health department on someone.