The Sun correctly reported that the Lompoc City Council was allowing chickens, rabbits, and pot-bellied pigs to join households in the city (“Lompoc to allow residents to keep chickens as pets,” Feb. 14). But before you run out and build up your livestock herd, you should know that there are a lot of rules that go with your new urban farm.
For several years, a few folks have been complaining that they couldn’t keep certain animals on their property. They have been lobbying the City Council to allow them to have small farms in residential neighborhoods, claiming that chickens would benefit them by eliminating snails, slugs, and some bugs. They would also provide a learning opportunity for their children and eggs for their table.
Others complained that these critters leave a smelly residue on the ground that attracts flies. Besides, shouldn’t farm animals be on farms?
As the Sun reported, the council revised its definition of “household pets” to include a new section for animal raising and keeping non-commercial small animals (such as chickens, birds, ducks, and rabbits, but not turkeys or peacocks) without any discussion or comment.
Snakes and other somewhat exotic animals were not included. Neither were pigeons nor geese.
The city now allows these pets to be kept on lots with single-family dwellings, not in apartments or condos. Those who live in projects that have homeowners associations (HOAs) should check the rules that have been adopted by those groups. Most HOAs are very restrictive.
Now to the rules for all other single-family residential areas. If you decide to keep the permitted animals, they must be in a clean and sanitary enclosure and on the rear half of the property at least 40 feet from any door or window of any adjoining residence and 10 feet from the side and rear property line.
But, if you meet the above criterion, you can only have a cumulative total of six animals including dogs and cats; roosters are prohibited; the critters can’t create an offensive noise or odor for adjacent property owners; and all birds must be kept in an enclosed aviary.
Even though I don’t favor keeping farm animals in residential areas, I felt that these rules were reasonable. Who needs more than six animals in their backyard anyway?
But the new rules pretty much eliminate almost all of the homes in the city if citizens follow them.
Yet that’s not the history of Lompoc. When safe and sane fireworks were allowed in the city, most people took that to mean they could blow up anything they could buy. And they do for several months each year when explosions can be heard and the rockets’ red glare illuminates the night.
Isn’t that the way with many of the policies and directives the government creates? Elected officials were ordinary citizens prior to being elected, but somehow they lose their common sense once they are seated, staring down at the folks they are exercising power over.
Maybe they should take off their important name tag and apply all the new rules to themselves or ask a neighbor what they think before voting. Better yet, consider the unintended consequences.
Ron Fink is a resident of Lompoc. Send your thoughts through the editor at clanham@santamariasun.com or write your opinion down for publication and email it to letters@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Feb 28 – Mar 7, 2019.