Building Permanent Culture in Knoxville

Knoxville Urban Hen Coalition

Information

This group is committed to building a community of responsible urban hen keepers in Knoxville.

Location: Knoxville
Members: 107
Latest Activity: Jun 10

How to Get Hens

*************City of Knoxville Now Accepting Hen Applications!***************

Here are the steps provided by some of the first people to go through the process.

Check out their website-- Hens at Our House -- For more great info!

1. Download an APPLICATION and the ORDINANCE
a. Hen Application.pdf
b. Hen Ordinance.pdf
b. Fully read the terms of the application, as well as the ordinance.

We got our Building Permit!

2. AQUIRE A BUILDING PERMIT:
a. Create an over-head site map of your property, with the dimensions of your yard. Include the size and location of where you want to put your coop on the map.
b. Bring your site map and application and checkbook to the City County Bldg. Plans, and Inspections dept. on the 5th floor. Here you will show your site map, pay a $50 fee for a Building Permit and acquire a needed signature on your application packet. I advise calling the office first, to make sure someone is in who can sign your application and take your check. The city hotline, 311 can connect you. Keep your building permit form with your application. You will need your building permit number in step number five.

3. START BUILDING YOUR COOP!

4. GET APPROVED
Take your application (now with signature from Inspections dept) back to the Animal Control Office, located on 5th Ave. Pay your $25 application fee, and leave a copy of your application with AC. The Board will need to vote on your application. This voting takes place once per month. You may attend the AC Board meeting while your application is voted on, but it isn't necessary. Voting takes place at the Young-Williams Animal Center. By the way, your coop does not need to be finished for you to take care of this step.

5. FINISH COOP/HAVE IT INSPECTED

The ACB voted to approve our application.

When your application is approved by the Animal Control Board, the last step is having your coop inspected. This is done through Interactive Voice Response System, by calling 215-4830. An automated computer system will talk you through how to schedule the inspection. You will need to input your Building Permit number at this time. It is at the top left of your permit. When you select from a menu of what type of inspection you need, "chicken coop" is not currently a choice on the menu. I selected "Other" and left a voicemail explaining what kind of inspection I needed. Apparently, this automated system is all that is required to make your appointment. However, I went ahead and called the inspection office to confirm my appointment anyway. (I like talking to a live person.)

6. GET INSPECTOR SIGNATURE
The inspector must check/sign your application when your coop has been seen.

7. FINISHED!
Take your completed application back to the Animal Control office to show that your inspection is complete. You will be assigned a Permit number, and now you're official! Keep all papers together in your records.

GO GET SOME CHICKENS!

*Thanks Natalie Townsend at Hens at Our House for writing this up!

*****************************************************************************

The first permits have been approved:

Look here for people's experience in the permit process.

Look here to read a blog of a Knoxville Urban Hen Trailblazer!

***History of Ordinance***

The backyard hen ordinance passed on Tuesday night, August 24th 2010, with a city council vote of 5-3! THANKS to all of you that called or wrote your representatives, talked to your neighbors, and attended the many meetings. The ordinance is a true testament to citizen-power!

City council has also approved (November, 30th 2010) the code changes that MPC recommended, which makes keeping hens officially legal!

READ THE NEW Hen Ordinance HERE

MPC Code Changes

A growing number of cities are allowing people to keep a small number of backyard hens. There are many reasons why people are keeping hens - A healthy source of eggs, education for the kids, food security for the family, pet companionship, and a good tool to turn compost into fertilizer for the garden.

Cities are also finding that backyard hens are building community ties - folks are looking over fence rows and asking what the neighbors are doing, eggs are shared and conversations are started.

We want to provide opportunities for city residents to feed their families safe healthy food from their own resources and yards. Backyard hens are one key link in creating sustainable urban systems.

Download MYTHS and FACTS

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
and more FAQ

***********************************************************************************
How to Find and Raise Backyard Hens

*************************************************************

Hen at Our House (local)

The City Chicken

How to Find and Raise Backyard Hens?

backyardchickens.com

East Tennessee Chicken Lovers (Facebook page)

Omlet USA

backyard poultry magazine

McMurray Hatchery

Chuckey Chickens (regional)

Or talk to our local hen-care guru, Farmer John! - 687-0441.

Discussion Forum

Chicken attacked by neighbors dog 3 Replies

Started by laurence. Last reply by Tracie L. Hellwinckel Jun 10.

Knox County Permit Renewal 2 Replies

Started by John & Kim Grubbs. Last reply by John & Kim Grubbs Jan 8.

Chickens in Maryville

Started by Minde Herbert Sep 16, 2012.

Building Permit Hoop Vs. Pre-Built Coop 1 Reply

Started by Anna Millman. Last reply by Chad Hellwinckel Sep 12, 2011.

A Vet Who Will Treat Chickens! - Dr. Cindy @ Countryside Veterinary Services

Started by Anna Millman Sep 12, 2011.

Hens in Knox County

Started by bob boyle Jul 19, 2011.

Done Deal 4 Replies

Started by Stephen Smith. Last reply by Stephen Smith May 29, 2011.

Going through the Hoops for Coops 11 Replies

Started by Stephen Smith. Last reply by Martha Rose Woodward Jun 19, 2011.

CAC Beardsley Farm Hen Workshop in May needs your help 2 Replies

Started by Elizabeth Moniz. Last reply by Michelle Reynolds Mar 20, 2011.

June 15th- THE DAY OF CHICKEN RECKONING 3 Replies

Started by Brandy. Last reply by Tracie L. Hellwinckel May 21, 2010.

View All

Comment Wall

Comment

You need to be a member of Knoxville Urban Hen Coalition to add comments!

Comment by Tracie L. Hellwinckel on May 23, 2010 at 4:37pm: It's important to note that when you write your letter to city council members that you send your letter(s) to the City Recorders Office who supplies assistance to city council. You want to make sure that the letter is noted and recorded. You may want to cc Cindy Mitchell. The address is:
City Recorders Office
Attn: (city council name here)
P.O. Box 1631
Knoxville TN 37901

If you call to say that you support the ordinance, the number is 865-215-2075 or fax at 865-215-4269

If you send it directly to their home, there is no record and can easily find the way to the trash can.

Comment by Chad Hellwinckel on May 21, 2010 at 9:07am: To follow up on Stephens report, its looking like the biggest argument some council members have is that it will flood our animal control law enforcers with complaints. I’ve talked on the phone with the Animal Control Supervisors in other cities with legal hens and this is what they’ve said:

Bill Porter, Director of Animal Control, Fort Collins, CO: He says that since legalization of hens, he’s received two complaints regarding smell and location of the coop, and both cases were unfounded. He said that the ordinance was written well, and because of that, there has been no problems. He also said that the birds need to be registered under the ordinance, but that from his point of view, this is unnecessary.

Patrick Comfort, Animal Control Supervisor, Madison, WI: He said, "there have been almost zero calls in 8 years to complain about chickens". In his estimation, legalization has been "a very positive experience". He added that he has seen that the ordinance has "opened up neighborhoods" by getting neighbors interacting. "People are looking over the fence and talking about the chickens, asking neighbors if they want some eggs, or if they will watch the chickens".

Comment by Chad Hellwinckel on May 21, 2010 at 8:27am: Thanks for the info Stephen, and for speaking up for hens. We'll send him some good reference material.

Comment by Stephen Smith on May 20, 2010 at 10:19pm: I ran into Bob Becker today in Tomato Head, I asked if he was aware of the Chicken campaign, he said he was, although he was not aware of it coming up in June. I told him Libby and I were supporting it as an important move to help people get closer to local food, lower the carbon footprint etc. He was kinda negative on supporting, said "95% would do it right, but the 5% would create lots of problems and the city does not have a way to control the 5% folks. I told him that 95% doing right is good, the 5% is a problem now any way, so why penalize everyone else. He kinda agreed, but then said he still leaning against. So he needs some more work. Thats a quick report...

Comment by Chad Hellwinckel on May 17, 2010 at 9:58am: Hall Shopper article on legalizing hens in Knoxville

Comment by bob boyle on April 5, 2010 at 3:25pm: Jake - My experience is that if you are zoned Residential, even low density, the codes enforcement will tell you they are not allowed in the county. I am in the county and had to remove my girls.

Comment by Jake Livesay on April 5, 2010 at 3:15pm: Who do I contact to determine whether I can keep chickens in my Karns backyard? I'm not in the city limits, but I've heard that there can be further restrictions from neighborhoods associations, etc...

Comment by Chad Hellwinckel on February 16, 2010 at 9:46am: Its still working its way through. Which gives us time to educate neighborhood organizations and maybe organize a screening of Mad City Chickens before the council vote.

Comment by Chad Hellwinckel on February 4, 2010 at 4:10pm: Cornbread ~ if you arrange a time and place for the class, you can post it on the 'events' section and invite all Guild members (I can help post it if you want).

Comment by Chad Hellwinckel on February 3, 2010 at 2:20pm: Bob, there will be a few places (4) in zoning definitions that will need to be changed. The City's law department is on it, so if it passes City Council, the changes will be recommended to MPC. I don't foresee this as a major hurdle if city council votes to approve the ordinance.