Ann Arbor goes pro-chicken, but gives neighbors control

The City of Ann Arbor, Michigan went pro-chicken on Monday with a city council vote of 7 to 4 in favor of allowing chickens. The Ann Arbor News has the full story. More info is also available on the Ann Arbor City Chickens website.

Ann Arbor's new chicken ordinance requires a permit, which is only granted with written approval from your neighbors saying they are ok with it. The ordinance will be reviewed after a year, and I hope they eliminate the requirement for neighbor approval at that time. Allowing chickens was the priority, and improvements to the regulations can happen over time as people get more comfortable witht the idea of backyard chickens.

Here is my opinion on the "neighbor approval" regulation...

1. From my semi-extensive research on urban chicken ordinances, I have found no cities (with successful chicken programs) that require this approval from neighbors. Not sure where the neighbor approval idea came from, but there is no case study example from another city to validate this as a necessary (or good) part of a chicken regulation. So...is it really a good idea and what are the effects from requiring neighbor approval? I guess Ann Arbor will serve as the case study.
2. This requirement could increase confrontations among neighbors, especially when one neighbor denies the allowance of chickens based on a grudge with or dislike of their neighbor. Also, chicken keepers will have the constant fear of their neighbors changing their mind, and saying they don't want them to have chickens.
3. Do we really want to live in a society where our neighbors can dictate how and what we grow in our own yards (within the limits of the law)? In this case they should have just left it to zoning (single/double family residences) to dictate who can keep chickens, and not give neighbors the right to decide. I personally see this as a legal nightmare waiting to happen. Basically, either its legal or its not- adding neighbor opinion into the equation is unjust in my opinion.
4. You don't need neighbor approval for a cat or dog, so why for chickens? This regulation opens a whole can of worms related to neighbor approval for keeping any animal- including cats and dogs.

Again, I am glad they went pro-chicken, but we will see how this regulation plays out. Maybe it won't be an issue, but I am still personally opposed to regulations like that. This is just my opinion, and I welcome others views.