Fowl Deal
It is only a matter of time before we delve into the exciting world of chicken (or possibly duck) ownership--the joy of fresh eggs, free high-nitrogen fertilizer, and garden pest control to boot. All we need to provide is a chicken coop, a water bowl, and some occasional chicken feed.
But it turns out that for us to legally keep chickens in Chico, we may also have to write the city a pretty big check.
Here are the requirements for chicken ownership as listed in the Chico Municipal Code:
--"Fowl shall not be kept within 20 feet of any dwelling or occupied structure." (19.76.040B.2)
--"Calculation of the minimum site area required for animals shall not include any areas within the footprint of a structure used for human habitation, or any areas subject to the setbacks from occupied dwellings" (19.76.040G)
--We must allow 250 square feet of outdoor roaming space for each chicken. (19.76.040G, Table 5-10)
However, I also learned that areas zoned R1 ("Single Family Residential") require a use permit for keeping farm animals on the property. Incidentally, farm animals, including chickens, are not allowed at all in areas zoned R2, R3, R4, and RD. There is no use permit required for properties zoned RR or RS. (19.42.020, Table 4-2) Cut and paste "www.gic.csuchico.edu/projects/urban_parcel/chico/zoning.pdf" to find your zone. FYI This is a big file.
Determining the cost of a use permit was not as simple. I was told to check out the Planning Services Department Fee Schedule, but after being unable to locate a line item stating something like "Use Permit Fee for Fowl," I emailed the city.
The problem was that I was looking for a fee along the same lines as dog licenses--twenty, maybe thirty bucks, or perhaps a cool hundred on the outside.
The cost of a use permit for a "Single family owner occupied residence" is $1,363.
Our future chickens would need to lay 3271 eggs (273 dozen) to mitigate the cost of the permit (at farmers market price~$5/dozen), and that doesn't even begin to account for the cost of feed, the construction of a chicken coop, and the original purchase price of the fowl.
Though this permit would also allow us to keep other larger farm animals such as goats, pigs, and horses (if we had the space and the desire, which we don't), it doesn't make any sense that the fee isn't differentiated for the size of the animal. Also, unlike a dog license, a use permit stays with the property. If we were to move with our chickens to another property zoned R1, we would have to get a new permit.
Like growing one's own vegetables or biking to do errands, the ability to source protein from one's property in the form of fresh eggs makes both economic and environmental sense, and should not be discouraged by a budget-breaking use permit fee.
I will be writing a letter to the city to this effect.
Thank you to Associate City Planners Meredith Williams and Greg Redeker for their friendly, timely, and informative responses to my queries.
Comments
just do it
if it bothers your neighbors you have a problem.
Its also against the law to ride a bike on downtown sidewalks or top off your gas tank.
Growing and raising our own food might be a issue of survival soon. A few good souls getting a head start will help the rest of us.
Mike
Reply:
If the neighbors report you having "undocumented illegal alien chickens," I was told that the city would give you a choice of either giving up the birds or, if you are zoned R1, applying for a use permit at double the rate ($2,726).
Nevertheless, we do have many friends that have taken the risk without consequences (thus far), occasionally we get eggs from them.
Since we are not quite yet ready to get chickens ourselves, I would rather begin by petitioning the city to adopt a more reasonable stance regarding use permits for fowl.
Posted by: eggs all the time | July 14, 2008 05:47 PM