Bangor, Maine Changes Ordinance to Allow Chickens

Two Buff Orpington Laying Hens.

If you live close to Bangor, or close enough to where there was an ordinance against keeping chickens, I assume it is farm animals, the ordinance will soon be changed to permit keeping (6) chickens. They must be hens, no roosters and must be penned at all times.

The question I have is what effect does this keeping of 6 hens have on the cost of living in the area. I assume it will cost the city of Bangor some small amount, or there would be no need of the $25 permit for keeping them.

I suppose we need a chicken policeman to make sure these animals are properly penned and well taken care of and that people that own them aren’t selling any eggs and not paying a tax to the State.

Although anyone with chickens know, that in a small flock, or at least a flock of that size, the cost of shelter, feed, equipment, labor, and a few other associated expenses make each egg cost more than the cost of a dozen at the market, the government must control this.

I can’t help but wonder what we can do on a piece of land that we pay taxes on. Is the next step for the government to inspect all small family gardens so we can pay a tax on the produce, determined by someone who has read a book somewhere about agriculture and has never picked up a spading fork or rototiller?

I understand controlling farming, although it is much overdone, but I don’t understand requiring a permit for someone to keep something that is used for food. If in fact there is an animal control officer, which all cities most likely have, then the chickens will in fact, incur no additional expense for the city or town. Therefore it is only reasonable for a landowner to have a half dozen hens, without paying a fee.

It is great that the ordinance was changed, I just don’t understand how it justifies another reason to tax the individual. Oh, yeah, it isn’t a tax. It is one of the lovely fees that Mainers pay for nothing. Just because our illustrious legislature at all levels can rob us blind.

Maybe the legislature should stop giving themselves raises and improved benefits at the taxpayers expense so we could have some tax relief.

Tags: 6 hens, Bangor, chicken, city, hen, ordinance, permit