Looking for help on changing town ordinances

[Andtckrtoo]

Hi All - I'm Christine and I really want to raise backyard chickens, but our town ordinances don't allow for it unless I have several acres of land. I'm looking for help on how to convince our town that chickens are good and would be good for them to allow. I live on an island off the coast of North Carolina. As far as I can tell, no islands in the state allow chickens, but I have found some in South Carolina that do. I also have a town councilman on my side as he wants to raise chickens as well. I just need to provide him with good information on how he can convince the other town councilmen to vote in an ordinance change.

 

[N F C]

There might be something in this article that will be helpful to you:
chicken-laws-and-ordinances-and-how-to-change-them.65675

Best of luck, hope things turn out in your favor!

 

[drumstick diva]

Thank you for joining us at Backyard Chickens, Christine. It's nice to meet you.

 

[ValerieJ]

Hi! Welcome to BYC! Good luck with your quest! Glad N F C had an article to help you!

 

[rjohns39]

Hi Christine and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've decided to join us

There's a sticky thread in the link that @N F C provided. I think it's the last post in the thread there's an organization that will help you with materials, how to setup a campaign, etc. Check them out.

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi Christine and welcome to BYC. Good luck with your local authorities

 

[cmom]

I don't know if this website will help you with some information. This is from one community here in Florida who successfully lobbied to get the ordinances changed.
https://sarasotacluck.blogspot.com/p/tips-to-legalize-chickens.html, Citizens Lobbying for Urban Chicken Keeping. Good luck...

 

[DobieLover]

Hello, Christine, and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
Check out the links you've been provided and start to draw up a bulleted list of reason why chickens should be allowed. Offer pointers on requirements that will ensure that the chickens are housed properly and not over populated.
Good luck and post back on the results of your efforts.

 

[Meg-in-MT]

Hello! Welcome to BYC!! Best of luck with getting the laws changed!

 

[sorce]

I'd start with the direct neighbors.

IMO...most of the ordinances are written because someone at some point was a venthole.

Write up a non-venthole ordinance that makes sense and see who's in.

Here in tight city quarters we are allowed 3 hens and no roosters.
A coop no more than 25ft² and 4ft high.
10 ft from neighbor's property line and rear line.
8am-8pm supervised freeranging.

Sorce