The Seattle City Council has approved a bill that could soon have a lot more chicken coops and urban farms popping up in Ballard and across the city. The ordinance updates the land use code on urban agriculture uses, including allowing “urban farms” and “community gardens” in all zones. Residents will now be able to sell food grown on their property. The legislation also changes the number of chickens allowed per lot from 3 to 8. You can read more about raising chickens in the city here.
Urban Farm Bill gives new meaning to ‘eating local’
Finally!
This is great news! I can't wait to see the variety of organic vegetables popping up around Ballard that will be grown in these gardens.
Darrell
Treat House Vacation Rental
Anyone know where I call and complain about my neighbors who never clean their coop as it is? I shudder to think of the stench if they get 5 more chickens.
Umm, how do you know you will be buying organic veggies, just cuz they came form your neighbor's garden. Last I knew, plenty of chemicals are on the market for home gardeners to use.
No licensing system to make sure these people do it right and don't cause rat infestations? There's a reason farm animals have been banned from cities.
No, no licensing system, that's why I would like to know where I file a complaint. I talked to my neighbors, but they would rather booze than clean up the coop.
I have contacted city council members and people at Tilth, and I have gotten the brush off. Nice.
Wait till you live next door to roosters! Another ill-conceived idea from city council
You are only allowed hens, no roosters.
Looking to complain?
Just wait for the mayor to ride by on his rainbow-colored unicorn and give him a piece of your mind.
Well there's always the DPD or the health dept. But who knows, maybe a stinky coop isn't prohibited by current codes.
The chicken coops attract rats.
But if your neighbor has a rooster there isn't much you can do – a call to 911 because of a rooster isn;t going to get much action. Yes neighbor on 31st I am talking about you and your cock a doodle doo's
remington 870, perfect for fowl
Urban farming is all fine and good if done well. But seriously Seattle City Council this is what you're working on now with all the problems our city has?? I am pretty liberal but even I am getting fed up.
It is pretty funny watching McGinn an the urbanists lose sleep over carbon emissions while on the southend, lead emissions from 10-year-olds are the real issue.
All work on lower-tier issues does not stop simply because there are big important things to work on. You don't shut down the city government and make it all into one big Department of Do Something about the Viaduct.
That would not be government. That would be stupid.
This place is getting ridiculous.
Instead of typing out your whining on this blog, why don't you take the time to type “complaint coop chickens seattle” into google and see what you come up with.
I'm going to go out to my garden and harvest my green beans, tomatoes, squash, and basil now.
“complaint coop chickens seattle”
I did. It linked me to the city's 'Race & Social Justice Initiative'……
I read that existing roosters are grandfathered in
actually, it links you to this very article.
nowhere on the first three pages of google search results do I see a link to what you are referring to.
why do you feel the need to post false information that is racially toned?
On the surface, it seems like a great idea to allow farm animals to live in the city and to have pea patches sprouting up everywhere. But, the fact that these gardens and these hens attract rats, ants, and all kinds of pests is an issue worth exploring.
I think this is a super cool idea.. for many reasons..
first of all.. I have chickens… and I can tell you.. chickens are only as stinky as you allow them to become.. as with any animal.. mine. do not smell at all.. funny..
they are also not loud.. they are however.. very entertaining..
I love roosters.. they are gorgeous.. but would not subject my neighbors to that.. and expect it to live long..
:)
allowing the community to do this.. is a very cool and productive business idea,,,
it would allow for a lot less wast of fruit trees currectly growing all around.
one could allow a child the opportunity to own and run a mini-business.. with produce, eggs, or fruit stand.. or micro-farmers markets.. in neighborhoods..
i can think of all sorts of cool ways to use this..
I have also recently been privy to a very cool vertical gardener.. and installation of such …
which transfors anyones typical ballard “poster stamp” yard.. into an amazing food producing mecca.. or beauty of flowering loveliness.. without taking up any horizontal space..
let me know if that interests you.. I will share.. :)
People should check their mortgages…I know mine specifically says I can’t grow food or raise animals for commercial purposes. It also limits farm animals. Pretty standard. Actually, there’s a way to complain about your neighbors, contact their mortgage company (public record) or landlord.