Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Dayton and Other Nearby Burbs: What are the rules?

So, folks are dying to know: Can I have chickens where I live?

Since I have researched Dayton the most - I'll start with them:

In the Dayton municipal code section 91.01 it says "Pet means an animal that has been adapted or tamed to live in intimate association with or for the pleasure or advantage of people and includes, but is not limited to dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, and hamsters. Pet does not mean any animal purposely kept as food." This is one point of contention that I had with the city staff. I believe a few laying hens would be pets, not food. I don't plan to kill them once they stop laying eggs and that makes them pets in my book. What I heard from the staff is that since you are harvesting something from the animal it isn't a pet in their book. I disagree.

In municipal code section 91.02 part (4) it says you may not:
"Keep animals other than cattle, poultry or fowl, swine, sheep, or goats in an enclosure without wholesome exercise and change of air, nor feed cows on food that produces impure or unwholesome milk." BTW - I interpret this as permission to keep chickens in pens but they want them to be fed wholesome food and get fresh air.


Similar to the state law; it says in Sec. 91.04 that you can not sell baby chicks less than 3 weeks of age in lots of less than 6 chicks. In the municipal code in section 91.20 it also says you can not let a herd of animals run in the street including chickens. But, if they find you running after your chickens - they won't impound them! The imagery I have of chicken fanciers chasing chickens down their blocks all over Dayton - makes me laugh =)!

 In Sec. 91.10. - Manner of keeping animals.
(A)No person shall keep or maintain any animal in the city in such manner so as to become a public nuisance or disturb the peace, comfort, or health of any person residing within the city.
(B) The keeping of all animals within the city shall be subject to all pertinent regulations of the State Health Department and the health officer. 

 In Sec. 91.17. - Unnecessary noises by animals.
No person shall keep any animal which by causing frequent or long continued noise shall disturb one or more inhabitants of two separate residences in the vicinity. Such action is declared to be a public nuisance and detrimental to public health and welfare.

In section 94.05 (E) You can not have animals or birds that make long or enumerated noises such that it would disturb your neighbor. Since in my experience a few hens are less noisy than spring robins, I think we can meet this requirement.


You can check out the code for yourself, here: http://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=13723&stateId=35&stateName=Ohio

My suggestion to city staff is to allow hens only; clean pens weekly; dispose of waste in trash or compost piles; keep feed free of rodents; if requested, don't place pens near property lines; register and pay a fee, NO ROOSTERS (they could be construed as noise nuisances anyway) and in any other way accommodate the locavores who love the City and want to also raise chickens here.

The city staff also recently made a push to allow bees, community gardens, compost, and more pop-up farmer's markets in the zoning code. While I appreciated those changes, clarifying the zoning code to allow registered chickens really seems like the more responsible way of doing things than telling folks to just do it in secret.

So I'm on a mission to root out the specifics in other localities. I've heard Kettering is a no (but I have no personal knowledge). I called Harrison Township and since the link on their web page was down when I tried to access the law; I talked with someone in community development or zoning department. He seemed to think it was a no: and no, no one in their township wanted chickens. They would be way too dirty and noisy. I began to argue when I realized I don't live there - and never will, if they don't get more friendly.

BUT the first time I called Dayton about chickens I got the same info. Until I looked more closely for myself at the law. So, if you live in another locality, PLEASE, PLEASE - research your law. Don't take their word for it. Call the City staff, and, with the details in front of you, negotiate. Then post here about your progress.

Together, we can make this happen!

 

5 comments:

  1. Has there been any change on this? I just bought a house in belmont and would love a few chickens. I grew up with them and they are less hassle than the pitbulls that lived next to me at the last place!

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  2. You know in Beavercreek the ordinance states that

    COMPANION ANIMAL. Means any animal that is kept inside a residential dwelling and any dog or cat regardless of where it is kept. COMPANION ANIMAL does not include livestock or any wild animal.

    Chickens are not livestock nor a wild animal.

    So, if you raise your "chicks" inside the house until they get older, then put them in the coop. I would contest that they would be considered a companion animal according to this rule.

    Plus you still have your constitutional right under the first amendment...The establishment clause prohibits the government from passing legislation to establish an official religion or preferring one religion over another. It enforces the "separation of church and state."

    Last time I checked...Voodoo religion uses chickens. I'm certain you can use this as an argument. Last thing any city would want is someone performing a Voodoo chicken sacrifice on their front lawn.

    From my experience, you put up a privacy fence, don't get a rooster, and don't live in an HOA (Nazi Camp), don't talk to your neighbors, and try and find chickens that are less noise.

    However...the noise thing. I guarantee that your lawnmower, or those noisy firetrucks make much more noise than chickens. As for smells...if your chickens are free range, meaning have room to move around, then smell isn't a concern. However, maintenance is require.

    Fortunately I think Beavercreek is going to change their laws to allow so many chickens per acre. I think 5 chickens per 1/4 acre would be acceptable or 1 per family member regardless of size.

    Freedom is most important aspect in America...or at least it was. I have written some about this at my blog.

    http://www.usamilitarymillionaire.blogspot.com/2012/05/hobbies-backyard-farming.html

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  3. Kettering is a bunch of insensitive pricks when it comes to having chickens. I had 6 for about 3 months then 4 got slaughtered by some animal in the backyard so I had two for over a year almost 2years then one day I received a letter from Kettering stating I had to get rid of the chickens and the $180 coop I built. The letter stated We can't have "farm animals" in the city and I had two weeks to relocate the coop and chickens, the letter was date stamped and post marked 8days apart so I really had 6 days to find a home and something to do with this expensive well made coop. I played the pet card but they weren't believing it.

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  4. My parents took it to court after the neighbors signed a petition. (Including some bogus non-qualifying signatures from their 8 and 10 year old kids) They won the battle for keeping their bantam chickens as pets. I say fight it. You could very well win. This was in sugarcreek/centerville and they weren’t slaughtering their chickens. The chickens had names and weren’t half as annoying as the neighbors themselves. Now that I have a home of my own in northridge, I’m about to start the battle myself. BTW the voodoo religion argument was hilarious. Whatever it takes! Some people aren’t educated enough about them and are afraid to be too close to wildlife.

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  5. The regulations in Dayton have changed. Most notably in the numbering. But, I do not, whatsoever, see any restrictions on chickens or fowl, specifically, unless they be vicious or listed as one of an endangered species.

    I believe the best defense is, as you suggested, that the animal is a pet (now codified in 91.01).

    Unless you advertise that you eat your eggs, or you crack and eat the eggs raw and openly in public --- there is absolutely no way the City would have any proof (which they must have) that the animal is kept for food at all. Should it also be assumed all cows are also only kept for food? What if you are vegan or Indian?



    "Kept for food" is very inclusive. Perhaps you wish to raise the chickens for 4H or breeding only. Under the definition - the chicken is a pet.

    Furthermore, the use of the word "purposely" in the definition changes the meaning entirely. "Purposely" is an intent. And intent is ALWAYS very hard to prove.

    If you intend to raise chickens for 4H and/or breeding only but decide to eat eggs that do not sell or are to abundant - then under the ordinance -- the animal IS A PET. That is, because, the purpose the animal is "kept" was not for food, even if you did eat the eggs.

    I have many more opinions on this matter but it is to burdensome to share all of them in this comment.

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