Hello, we are Jon and Lindsey, and we are fighting to keep our chickens. Earlier this year, our family moved to a township, in part, because it does not have laws or restrictions explicitly against homeowners owning chickens.

 

We have owned backyard chickens for the last several years. Our chickens are a fundamental part of how we live our lives in many ways. The chickens teach us sustainability and self-reliance, they nourish us, and give us enjoyment.

 

Our neighbor and the township

Unfortunately, our neighbor doesn’t like chickens. She saw one of the ladies out in our yard while we were cleaning the coop one morning. She decided to complain to the township. Even though there are no laws against chickens, the township requires chickens and coops to be approved through the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) process. None of this is, or was, published in the township ordinances or website. Before purchasing our new home, we even called the township to inquire about the chickens and they only informed us we couldn’t operate a farm. We didn’t fit that ordinance, as farming, defined by the city, pertains to operation of a chicken hatchery (mating and selling of chickens). Regardless, the township informed us we needed to get our chickens approved and we happily complied.

 

Zoning Board of Appeals

We sent in our application, compiled a 48-page presentation, and later spoke at two, separate ZBA meetings requesting to keep our chickens. Unfortunately, our neighbor attended the meetings and presented false claims without supporting evidence. She was combative and condescending to ourselves, and to the city council. She made a number of NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) statements about how our neighborhood and our city are too good for residential chickens. Despite not having any laws against chickens, the township ruled in favor of our neighbor and her false claims. We are now required to remove the chickens from our property.

 

Inconsistent Rulings

Chickens are not uncommon in our township; a review of the ZBA historical records show that one to two coops are approved each year through this ZBA process (and those are only the coops that they are aware of). During our first ZBA meeting, another family was approved to keep 8 chickens on a 0.40 acre lot. They had similar complaints against them, and yet were allowed to keep their chickens. In contrast, we were asking for 7 chickens on a 1.83 acre lot of land. Once the board stated their ruling, we were shocked by their inconsistent decision making. The board doesn't have guidelines on what coops they approve and disapprove. Not to mention, there is a lack of laws that clearly ban backyard chickens from the township, or provide guidance/rules on how they might be acceptable. In an attempt to keep our chickens, to prevent others from going through the same heartache, and to force the city to update their laws, we are taking our case to court. How can we be told what to do on our property, and what animals to own when there isn’t a law against it?

 

It isn’t just about keeping our chickens; but fighting for our rights, and not letting our neighbor bully us. Please help us raise legal funds, and please share our story. Any other help, or resources you can provide, are greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you so much for listening,

Lindsey and Jon (and the ladies, June, Penny, Sal, Edith, and Isa)

How will the funds be used?

The funds will be used to pay for legal fees to take our case to court. What we are asking will only cover a proportion of our lawyer's fee.

 

 

If you are curious about hearing more about how we plead our request to the city, please check out the list below.