Chicken Coop

From what I see in Title 29 Virgin Islands Code § 228

Agriculture is permitted in R-1 and R-2.....so no worries

R-1 RESIDENTIAL--LOW DENSITY

Uses permitted as a matter of right:

1. Accessory Buildings

2. Agriculture, Crops, Fruits & Vegetables

3. Artists' Studios

4. Botanical Gardens & Arboretums

5. Camps, Group or Organized

6. Camping & Picnicking Areas

7. Civic, Social & Fraternal Associations (Clubhouse or Office)

8. Dwellings

Detached

Single-Family

Two-Family

9. Garage, Private

I think you all miss the point. It is about obeying rules and regulations, already in place.
They are there for a reason. But if those rules and regulations do not suit you, you choose to ignore them

Why is there so much trash on the roads?
Because everyone seems to think the laws against littering do not apply to them, either.

When you go to sell or rent a property, if there are chickens roaming the neighborhood and roosters crowing to beat the band, it is highly unlikely that someone is going to rent or purchase that property. When vacation villa guests pay considerable money to come to the islands, they don't want to wake up at 3AM listening to a rooster starting to crow, every 10 seconds for the next several hours continuing for days and days or weeks and months. So much for quality of life.

I have had friends truly suffer from these types of situations. People should not be made to suffer any type of noise in their own homes.

I suggest Rosieland find out about the noise laws if in a situation where the generator noise is so loud, she can't think.

There is already a huge problem with roaming feral chickens and roosters. You may not like the truth of the matter.
There should be more chicken/rooster police with much heftier fines to insure compliance with the laws already in place.
But, hey, that's okay because the laws don't apply to you, right?

The law Yearasta is quoting,says Agriculture not fowl or livestock. It is only under zoning laws for A-1 & A-2 that those are permitted
You can grow your own veggies, plants, fruit trees, whatever but it does not allow livestock and fowl on residential property.

East Ender - I'll get the trap manufacturer info for you today.

I think you all miss the point. It is about obeying rules and regulations, already in place.
They are there for a reason. But if those rules and regulations do not suit you, you choose to ignore them

apparently, as shown above, R1 & R2 can have "agriculture"

Why is there so much trash on the roads?
Because everyone seems to think the laws against littering do not apply to them, either.

no, that's not it at all, Laws don't make people do anything.. the people littering are lazy assholes, the law has very little (nothing really) to do with it.

When you go to sell or rent a property, if there are chickens roaming the neighborhood and roosters crowing to beat the band, it is highly unlikely that someone is going to rent or purchase that property. When vacation villa guests pay considerable money to come to the islands, they don't want to wake up at 3AM listening to a rooster starting to crow, every 10 seconds for the next several hours continuing for days and days or weeks and months. So much for quality of life.

so... *gasp* do something about it,,,, YOURSELF?
if they are "roaming" they don't belong to anyone, thus your kind of off topic in concern to the title of this thread, a "coop" does not involve uncontrolled roaming.

I have had friends truly suffer from these types of situations. People should not be made to suffer any type of noise in their own homes.
I suggest Rosieland find out about the noise laws if in a situation where the generator noise is so loud, she can't think.

Suffer? really?
I've been to 3rd world countries, I've seen suffering; perhaps your friends need to get some perspective in life, to suffer from a rooster is pretty damn pathetic.

There is already a huge problem with roaming feral chickens and roosters. You may not like the truth of the matter.
There should be more chicken/rooster police with much heftier fines to insure compliance with the laws already in place.
But, hey, that's okay because the laws don't apply to you, right?

East Ender - I'll get the trap manufacturer info for you today.

apparently the laws do apply to the poster...

Argriculture is permitted on Residential property.
Agriculture as defined by crops, fruits and vegetables.
It does NOT include livestock and fowl which is only permitted in A-1 and A-2 properties.
Look it up.

I not only looked it up, I provided a link

Agriculture, also called farming or husbandry, is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi, and other life forms for food, fiber, biofuel, drugs and other products used to sustain and enhance human life

Trap Info for East Ender (and others in need):

Heart of the Earth Animal Equipment
1-800-526-1644
animal-traps.com

Liquid Floride:

Our zoning laws state what is allowed in different zoned properties not what isn't allowed.
If R-1, R-2 or zoned properties allowed livestock and fowl, it would state that instead of just saying crops, vegetables, etc.
When I said "look it up" I meant in the VI Zoning Building and housing Laws and Regulations complied from Title 29 of the VI Code.
I have the book.

AS LiquidFlouride stated agriculture includes cultivation of animals....

A2 specifies Livestock and Poultry....the intent was for large scale poultry farming...not someone with a few chickens to get eggs

A-2 AGRICULTURAL ZONE

Uses permitted as a matter of right:

1. Agriculture

Crops, Fruits & Vegetables

Fish & Marine Products (Hatcheries & Pond)

Horticulture

Livestock & Poultry

Just another pushy broad!!!

Hey wait, who you calling pushy? *sniffs armpits daintily*

*laughs*

I think Alana has laid an egg on this one. Or she might be done to a turn. What do you all think?

Liquid Floride, I totally agree with you. I've been prepping for years and gave away to food pantry food for over 7 months worth and this was after we stopped when we planned to move which was 11months later. My husband, a carpenter, built sturdy shelves and deep, and many. I've been seeing the day is coming soon. Been sick for months and have only gotten enough stuff to now make it a couple of weeks. When hubby gets back in Nov. we will start again. May bring back some MRE's, if I can get more. Got plenty for my prepping back home. I was totally caught off guard when Marilyn hit 18 years ago and had to depend on FEMA. Hopefully never again!

Also, anyone who grows their own food today is making the wisest decision ever.

Alana, ever go to Europe and try to sleep? Wasn't a cheap vaca at all and we didn't complain. It's part of the culture here. You must not live near the area of a Jou'vert when that is happening.

taking personal responsibility is clearly NOT what is Alana desires here, she wants a thug in a costume (preferably with a gun or two) to come over and tell you how to live your life based on her point of view (aka democrat, or republican).

Pretty impressive - just on island a few months and already you have people pegged so well that you can even determine their political leanings just based on forum posts. When the gubernatorial election comes around, do fill in everyone on the best candidates!

Here are a couple of examples:

A friend has a neighbor that decides to raise fighting cocks.
That neighbor places the roosters up against the friend's fence so that it is as far away from the house of the neighbor raising them.
Friend cannot sleep or even speak on the phone at home (which he runs his business out of )due to constant crowing.
Their tenants move because they cannot deal with the noise.
They cannot re-rent the apt. because every time it is shown there is the crowing of roosters.

Another friend has a similar situation with their immediate neighbor raising fighting cocks.
There is constant crowing all day and night. The wife is attempting to study for her master's degree while being distracted by the noise and they must spend many sleepless nights until the situation can be resolved.

Another friend buys a lovely house in a quiet residential neighborhood on the north-side.
They live peacefully and traquilly until their neighbor decides to raise goats.
That friend was then listening to the constant bleating of those goats, day in and day out and smelling all the excrement from the urine and fecal waste coming into their home until that situation finally got resolved.

Another friend had a neighbor that decided to raise chickens for eggs.
That neighbor decided it was too much trouble and let them all go.
That friend now has a neighborhood with hundreds of roaming chickens and roosters.
She and her family must leave windows closed, rely on constant use of A/C to blot out the noise.
This situation has also devalued her property which she is considering selling due to this.

Vacation Villa owners that I know have had similar experiences and unfortunately, their guests do not consider it part of the charm.
They want the situation resolved, to be able to sleep thru the night, enjoy the beauty and tranquility of their location or their money back and/or moved to another location. They will not be repeat guests.

One did not see chickens and roosters roaming the streets and neighborhoods, everywhere you looked until recent years.
That was never part of the culture here.

Zoning laws are there for a reason. All too often, they are disregarded and these types of situations are created.
You'd be happy to have them enforced, if you were in a similar situation as those described above.

Alana

you are correct....Zoning Laws are there for a reason...

You said you have the book...turn to page 349 and check out the definition of agricultural use

TITLE TWENTY-NINE Public Planning and Development
Chapter 3. Virgin Islands Zoning and Subdivision Law
Subchapter I. Zoning Law

29 V.I.C. § 225 (2013)

§ 225. Definitions

General provision

(a) All words used in the present tense include the future tense. All words in the plural number include the singular number and all words in the singular number include the plural number, unless the natural construction of the wording indicates otherwise. The word "building" includes the word "structure". The word "lot" includes the word "plot". The word "shall" is mandatory and not directory. The word "used" shall be deemed also to include "designed, intended, or arranged to be used". Unless otherwise specified, all distances shall be measured horizontally.

Specific provisions

(b) As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise requires, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings assigned them herein:

......

(5) Agricultural use. Cultivation of the ground, including harvesting crops and rearing and management of livestock; tillage; husbandry; farming; horticulture and forestry.

So basically I can raise cows in r-1/r-2 as well as chickens, goats, pigs, and more....AND open a day care, dance studio, sanitarium, country club, golf course, hospital, college....i could go on

Yearasta,

I've tried that dance before - it goes back to how she *feels* the law should be written, rather than actual reading of the book. I agree with you 100%.

I'm thinking something like this one ... with added badge and gun, of course. [Funny enough, cheaper than the "police officer" costumes the VI gets, and in my mind a far better value!]

Red don't forget the deputy vest!

That is not the intent of the zoning law to allow livestock and poultry in R1/R2, etc.
As Stated: Agriculture, crops, fruits and vegetables.
I hope you never have to deal with any situation similar to those that some of my friends have had with their neighbors disregard of the law.

Here are a couple of other instances that zoning, rezoning and Senator's spot zoning that have had adverse effects on adjacent property owners.

The zoning that the Senators went against their own legal counsel to allow Sirenusa to be built in St. John.
How would you have liked to be the homeowners that had to endure years of construction noise and then had their wonderful ocean views obliterated by buildings that obstruct that view they fell in love with, originally purchased the land or home for, only to now look at the backside of this monstrosity. How do you think that effects their property values?

How about living in a peaceful quiet neighborhood for decades and then have a zip-line company operating next door and listening to the constant screeching of excited guests all day long as well as the increased traffic and its noise that brings with it. How do you think that effects their property values?

How about living in your home for decades and a new home is constructed in front of you that completely obliterates that sea view?

Our zoning laws need to protect homeowners and need to be updated to do so.
Most people do not look for homes to purchase or rentals to live where there is constant noise, odors or lack any view that prove detrimental for your quality of life and resale value, at least not in my experience here in the Virgin Islands.

Alana, are you not reading this?

(5) Agricultural use. Cultivation of the ground, including harvesting crops and rearing and management of livestock; tillage; husbandry; farming; horticulture and forestry.

I understand that sometimes in the VI eyesores and noise nuisances happen. But now you're twisting chickens into zip lines.

I think most people when they move to the VI understand that if they don't live in a gated community they're taking their chances. Heck, we had our neighbor build a new three story house on the zero lot line next to us, blocking half our view. It happens.

If people want to live somewhere with extreme zoning control, the VI is not the place for them.

Actually, if people want to live somewhere that have people that actually obey the zoning laws, the VI is not the place for them.

If you do not believe me when I tell you that poultry and livestock are not permitted on residential property, then feel
free to contact Timothy Smith at DPNR and find out for yourselves.

When people relocate to our islands they should be willing to follow the laws, not just when it suits them.

So is Mr. Timothy Smith making up his own VI Code?

Everything I posted is verbatim from the Virgin Islands code...something I work with on a daily basis...as a matter of fact all 34 Titles...plus the changes and the Organic Act is on my desk...

Just to appease you I called DPNR just now at 773-1082...They never heard of him...do you have another name you want me to try?

Actually, if people want to live somewhere that have people that actually obey the zoning laws, the VI is not the place for them.

Correct.