Please sign our petition to restore our agricultural property rights in Anderson Township! The existing zoning ordinance created in 1987 forbids any structure deemed for agricultural use which does not exist 100 feet inside any property line. Since 99% of Anderson Township properties fail to meet this necessary requirement, this ordinance effectively prohibits the ownership of bees, chickens/ducks, rabbits, and other animals deemed to be agricultural. In addition, greenhouses, raised garden beds, and plants grown in flower pots fall under this prohibition. All legally grown produce must be consumed exclusively by the grower and property occupants. Distribution to friends, family, neighbors, and food pantries IS FORBIDDEN! It is high time that Anderson Township greatly reduce the overly restrictive property setback requirements which deny homeowners the enjoyment and right of producing food for home consumption. 

Anderson Township, which prides itself on being Ohio's first and only green township, is located within Hamilton County, Ohio, which has it's own specific guidelines regarding the location of bee hives (apiaries) and chicken coops on residential properties. According to Hamilton County law, chicken coops must be placed within a backyard and must be a minimum of 20 feet from all property lines. Homeowners are limited to 10 chickens on properties less than 1 acre. Apiaries are limited to two (2) per residence for those on properties less than 1 acre and must be located in the back yard of the premises at least 10 feet from all property lines. They (apiaries) must  also be registered with the state of Ohio and the county. Other local communities have similar ordinances regarding the keeping of backyard chickens and honey bees. 

As zoning regulations are written currently in Anderson Township, residents are not allowed to keep backyard chickens or any agricultural animal if the coop is not more than 100 feet from any residential property line. This ordinance excludes not only my family, but almost anyone who does not own more than one acre of land or has an irregularly shaped lot, from owning backyard chickens or honeybees. There is an increasing amount of people in the Township who not only support the keeping of chickens and honeybees in residential areas, but either currently have them or wish to have them in the near future. This ordinance as written bars them from doing so. 

We are requesting that Anderson Township, Ohio's first "greenspace" township, either grandfather existing backyard chicken and beekeepers under the current zoning regulations or change the zoning regulations regarding backyard chickens and bees to that of other local areas. We are asking that the zoning regulations be changed to something similar to the following:

Suburban Chickens: 

1. The sole purpose of keeping Suburban chickens is for the farming of their eggs for private consumption of the property owner and not to sell the product. In no case shall any product produced or made as a result of the keeping of suburban chickens as provided in this section be offered for sale on any property zoned for residential use. Furthermore, these regulations are not meant to limit poultry husbandry uses.
2. Number of Fowl: The number of chickens shall be limited to ten (10) per household. 
3. Suburban chicken enclosure: any accessory building or enclosure (including fences) shall be located a minimum of ten (10) feet from all property lines and shall be located within the rear yard.
4. Maintenance: Chickens and their enclosures shall be kept in neat, clean and sanitary conditions free from offensive odors, excessive noise, or any other condition that would constitute a nuisance.
5. Confinement: Chickens shall not be permitted to be outside the designated fenced enclosure unsupervised and shall be closed up in their coop between the hours of 10p.m. and 7a.m.
6. Slaughter: No chicken shall be slaughtered on property zoned for residential use; however, those chickens that dies through some other means or are slaughtered off site may be cleaned and dressed on the property for consumption. 

Suburban Agriculture-Beekeeping

1. Notwithstanding compliance with the various requirements of this section, it shall be prohibited for any beekeepers to keep any colony or colonies in such a manner or of such disposition as to cause any unhealthy condition.
2. Allowed densities: It shall be unlawful to keep more than the following number of colonies on any tract of land, based upon the size or configuration of the tract on which the apiary is situated:
   1. One acre or less- two (2) colonies
   2. More than one acre- two (2) colonies per acre
3. Location and Setback: Any structure used for apiculture shall be an accessory to an existing principal structure and shall comply with the following yard and setback requirements:
   1. Be located in the rear yard
   2. Be located at least ten (10) feet from any property line
4. Hive registration: All honey bee colonies shall be registered with the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Operators must have a valid annual apiary registration
5. Fencing of flyways: In each instance in which any colony is situated within 10 feet of a property line, the beekeeper shall establish and maintain a flyway barrier so that all bees are forced to fly at an elevation of at least six (6) feet above ground level over the property lines in the vicinity of the apiary. 
6. Water: Each beekeeper shall ensure that a convenient source of water is available to the bees at all times during the year.
7. Queens: In any instance in which a colony exhibits unusual aggressive characteristics by stinging or attempting to sting without due provocation or exhibits an unusual disposition towards swarming, it shall be the duty of the beekeeper to promptly requeen the colony.
8. Operation: It shall be presumed that the beekeeper is the person or persons who owns or otherwise have the present right of possession and control of the tract upon which a colony or colonies are situated. 
9. All beekeepers or potential beekeepers are strongly encouraged to take an educational class regarding apiculture and backyard beekeeping prior to obtaining a hive/apiary. All beekeepers are also encouraged to maintain a membership in a local beekeeping association. 

We feel that the above conditions would allow and encourage township residents to maintain and own backyard chickens and apiaries while establishing reasonable guidelines for ownership.