This summer, we asked for your signature to support legalizing chickens in the borough of Wellsboro, PA. Over 700 people responded in a few short weeks. When we presented the signatures to the borough council, they were dismissed. The pressure from the community was enough to change the minds of half of the borough council, ultimately, however, our attempts to persuade the borough council to allow for the keeping of no/low-impact animals in the borough was denied.

Their explanation? "That's what the town fathers decided [in 1991], and we are going to keep it that way."

Nevermind that they recently allowed for the keeping of llamas and sheep in rural residential zones in 2020.

When our requests were denied, we filed for a variance. Almost 6 months later, our hearing date has been set. In the meantime, the borough council has approved fining us $7,000 for not removing the birds from our property while we waited for a zoning board hearing. 

That's $7,000 for four chickens and four ducks in rural residential zoning approved for agricultural use.

We received two letters this week. The first letter was good news: We finally have a hearing before the zoning committee on Tuesday, January 26 for our variance application. Yay! The second letter was to inform us that the borough is fining us $7,000 for keeping the birds while we waited for this zoning hearing. We go before the magistrate on Wednesday, January 27. Yikes!

We still feel strongly that homeowners in any part of the borough, especially in rural residential areas approved for agricultural use, should have the right to keep and maintain a small flock of no-impact poultry as pets or as food. The bird's presence was therapeutic, entertaining, and functional. And zero harm came of keeping them on our property. We hope to see the ordinance changed to reflect all of the practical reasons for keeping low-impact animals. If you live or grew up or plan to move in the borough and feel similarly, we encourage you to reach out to the leadership of the borough council and borough zoning committee to voice your opinion. We need all the support we can get - letters, phone calls, emails, showing up at the meeting on January 26 at 5 PM on Crafton Street....

Now, more than ever, we need the support of the community to make a change. Please, reach out to the borough council and the zoning board and make your voice heard (because they sure are not listening to the two town mother's with a toddler and a couple of birds). 

Please write to the leadership at Wellsboro Borough Office and ask for a change. https://www.wellsboroborough.com/index.php/contact