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: Apr 10
How to Get Hens
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.
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| 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
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| 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!
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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!
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
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How to Find and Raise Backyard Hens
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Hen at Our House (local)
How to Find and Raise Backyard Hens?
East Tennessee Chicken Lovers (Facebook page)
Or talk to our local hen-care guru, Farmer John! - 687-0441.
Discussion Forum
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.
New Info Re: Chris Woodhull and the Ordinance (action alert) 3 Replies
Started by Brandy. Last reply by Brandy May 13, 2010.
Comment Wall
Comment
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Comment by bob boyle on September 17, 2010 at 11:31pm -
Any word from the MPC?
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Comment by Chad Hellwinckel on August 25, 2010 at 10:45am -
Jake, you'll have to wait and see what MPC does in the next few weeks.
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Comment by Jake Livesay on August 25, 2010 at 10:42am -
Congratulations all around ! Any idea how this will impact us county folks ?
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Comment by Chad Hellwinckel on August 25, 2010 at 9:20am
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Comment by Michele Dahl on July 29, 2010 at 3:00pm -
That's good news Chad! I'm glad they have come to their senses. I hope they realized that nobody would get a permit if we had to give the ok to that.
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Comment by Chad Hellwinckel on July 29, 2010 at 2:32pm
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**IMPORTANT**
I just talked to council members. I have assurance that there is no way that the last amendment will be in there. It will either be withdrawn or the amendment will be voted down. They understand that the amendment would kill the intent of legalization, and will move to eliminate it. Don't loose sleep this!! Good news!!
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Comment by David Willis on July 29, 2010 at 6:06am -
it's still Mo. Chad, i want you to know how much i respect you, and have been impressed at your presence at the council meetings. you have represented the the hen coalition well, and i believe a large part of the success so far (and there has been quite a lot) has been due in great part to your leadership. thank you.
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Comment by David Willis on July 29, 2010 at 6:00am
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it's Mo, Dave's wife again. i think it's time to be in contact with our council people again, especially Mr. Woodall, and make our voices heard and our concerns known. while i'm tempted to be angry and responsive, i think matters will be better served to be calm and proactive. let's let Mr. Woodall know how much we respect him and appreciate his time and effort on our behalves. behalfs? neither one looks right, but it's pretty early. i trust you understand what i'm trying to say! and maybe this is a good time to see conflict for what it really is~ a grand opportunity for better things to unfold. Lord knows, we have seen that in our own lives, may we now see it in the public square!
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Comment by Chad Hellwinckel on July 29, 2010 at 12:03am
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Lets hope the law department does its work. Otherwise we'll have to let council know that such an amendment would, in essence, keep all henkeeping illegal - because the city would be hard-pressed to get even one person to sign up for a
permit (to go the legal path).
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Comment by William Dunklin on July 28, 2010 at 10:07pm -
Chad has done a fantastic job to overcome the endless repetition of mis-understandings and p.r. insanity that it has taken to get this issue passed. I too though, am unhappy with what the city council has done. Unhappy but accepting up to the last amendment added last nigh. That was the deal breaker for me and I don't know what to do. I don't want to stand up at the next council meeting and oppose the ordinance because I do respect the work that's been done. But the della Volpe amendment is one concession too far. If della Volpe was actually trying to kill the momentum, he might just have done it.
© 2013 Created by Chad Hellwinckel.
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