Does any one know the building code re legality of large chicken coop close to back property line?

Our neighbors have a large chicken coop and moved it close to our back property line.   It is a wood and screen structure – I’m guessing it might be a bit more than 6 ft. high as roof is slanted, looks like it might be 2 feet from our back property line and almost spans about 2/3rds width of the back yard.  Does the structure comply with the buidling codes?  Their property is about 4 feet higher than ours, so our view are now this large structure.  Is such a structure in line with the building codes?

Bar

in Building Code 13 years and 6 months ago

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Bar | 13 years and 6 months ago

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Thank you theoriginalbroo!

theoriginalbrooklyngreene | 13 years and 6 months ago

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The structure needs to be at least a certain distance from the property line and a certain distance, I believe, from any other permanent structure. As they say: “go online” and check. The DOH and DOB websites may be of some help. Also, check the chicken enthusiasts sites. There are a number of people in Brooklyn running groups I think. I went to a talk and the young men were very knowledgeable and quick to mention the dos and don’ts. Unfortunately, I can’t remember many of the details.

babs | 13 years and 6 months ago

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Roosters are illegal in NYC for just that reason.  Hens do not crow, so if there is a crowing chicken at 5:45 am it is most likely an illegal rooster.  Most people who keep chickens in NYC (espeically, I would guess, in places like Park Slope) are aware of this.

fultonst | 13 years and 6 months ago

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As a child in the suburbs, we had a few chickens in the back yard for a few years. The things the neighbors hated the  most was “cockle-doodle-do”ing of the rooster every morning. I mean, it is LOUD. Chickens “make nice clucking sounds” in the afternoon, but at 5:45 AM… not so nice. Is that the real problem here, and you’re trying to zone the issue away?

bkmatthew | 13 years and 6 months ago

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If your neighbor keeps the chicken coop clean and looks after the hens properly what’s the problem? We live in NY city, I can tell you I have smelled things a lot worse than a chicken coop since moving here, including: rotting garbage, broken sewers, a subway station that smelled of brain matter for two weeks after gang bangers shot an innocent guy coming home from work, you name it, you probably get to smell it sometime in NYC. Chickens make nice clucking sounds, and your neighbor gets nice fresh eggs that aren’t trucked in from Pennsylvannia in diesel burning trucks. S/he might also occasionally have a nice freshly slaughtered, free range chicken to cook for Sunday lunch. The chooks probably also eat their fair share of his kitchen waste, and if he’s also growing vegetables, the chook poop is fertilizing the garden and recycling all of thei waste back to the kitchen. When I was growing up in suburban Australia, half my neighbors had chooks, they were never a problem. Lie back and think of the idyll of rural America, the sound of chickens clucking away as they roost should increase your level of relaxation.

Goatcrapp | 13 years and 6 months ago

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what exactly is the problem?  the view?  the fact that they are doing with their property, what they please?  the smell? The only valid issue you might have would be a smell, if any. You’re not entitled to a view of your neighborts property.  Rather than all this old-maid posting about how to get them in trouble – just have a frank discussion with them about potentially moving it. Have you spoken to them about it?  not just in a passive way, but voiced an actual concern, and the action you would like to correct it? If its just ugly – put up a fence, problem seolved.

Bar | 13 years and 6 months ago

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Spoke with my neighbor who said “it is not a permanent structure” – so the implication is that it is legal.  The impermanent structure has been in existence for about a year.

pigthree | 13 years and 6 months ago

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Not 100% on this but it might be considered a “shed” which has no foundation and can be 8′ in height.  At least 8′ x 10′ I think.  Don’t think distance to prop line is relavant.