Wishing I could have goats in the city

[Marta Cook]

Hi everyone!

 

I'm Marta.  It's been a dream for some time to have dwarf dairy goats, and I assume it will remain that way for a long while. But that isn't going to stop me from learning and acquiring as much information as I possibly can.

 

The first order of business is to put to rest the idea that I could make this dream a reality any time soon. I imagine it sounds insane to even consider having goats in the city, but I suppose I really don't have enough information to be completely certain. In any case, even if it is impossible at the moment, it can't hurt to get a realistic picture of exactly what needs to happen.

 

 Some internet research has turned up the fact that goats in urban settings do exist, mostly on the west coast. I have also read about some of the legal issues people have had. My questions are therefore on two fronts: first, is it possible to keep goats safe and happy in my specific situation, and if it is, how deterred should I be by the fact that it isn't technically legal in my city?

 

My roommates and I live in a three-family house in an immigrant neighborhood, a bit off the beaten track, in a three-family house. We have recently acquired exclusive rights to the backyard. I think it is about 900-1000 square feet. It is not concrete, either; we've gotten all the weeds out and are spading it up, and the soil is actually lovely. There are high (at least 12',) strong walls on all sides. At the moment there is nothing back there; our plan was to plant a garden, and if that goes well acquire a couple of hens, which are legal, and if that goes well, we might think about goats several years down the line (realizing that we may have to completely give up one of the other endeavors to accommodate them.)

 

There are a handful of neighbors from the upper floors of other buildings who would be able to see in, but I can't imagine that they would care. It's kind of that type of neighborhood, if you know what I mean. The two biggest concerns that I have would be the landlady, who I think would come around if all of the other things went well (garden, chickens...), and the welfare of the goats in terms of city living. Even assuming if it were possible to accommodate them in terms of space, food, shelter, a vet, stud services, etc, etc, the two things that I have absolutely no control over are the quality of the air here and the loud music of the neighbors. These probably sound like stupid concerns compared to the other vast obstacles, but while I don't know all that I could about those and just how insurmountable they are, I do know that those are things I can't change. Well, I am sure that the neighbors are violating noise ordinances and I know that people call the cops sometimes, but I personally certainly wouldn't want to get into it with them if I was doing something that's not technically legal.

Anyway, any input would be most appreciated! Has anyone here ever kept goats in the city? Can you tell me more about why I should forget about it/what the specific things are that I need to know in order to figure that out?

 

Thanks so much!! :)

[Elizabeth A. Mancuso]

I live in Cleveland.  Goats are allowed under city ordinance, but only if you have enough sq ft of property.  The amount of sq ft is way above what a normal lot would have (it is about 4 city lots).  The ordinance is based on your neighbors' needs, not the goats' needs.  We live on 2 city lots.

It took a year, support from 2 councilmembers, 40 letters of support from neighbors and other community members, but I now have a variance to legally keep goats on my lot.

Also, City Goats is a book that I thought covered a lot of good info.

I have only had the goats since December, but they seem to be doing fine.  One is due next week.

[Judy Asarkof]

I can't help with regulations but a city near me worked with a woman to create new rules for allowing Nigerians. What they (3 different people) do- everyday, the take their goats by car to walk in nearby conservation areas. Goats just hop into car and off they go. This way the goats get exercise and browse they need! Seems like a good idea.

Another route is to lease land in a nearby town that allows goats.

Good luck!

[Rosalyn Abbott]

I am in a similar boat in terms of goat ownership in my community.  Our family moved this past fall, planning to move to a rural home but instead falling in love with a semi-rural home on one acre but within the limits of a small town where our zoning prohibits farm animals.  I'm currently working with the town with the goal of amending the bylaws.  In the meantime, I put together this document with information I found regarding cities that allow goats in an effort to show town officials that it is not only doable but supported on properties much smaller than mine.  I don't know if this will help you at all, but I thought I'd upload the document I put together in case anyone else is moving forward with the same objective.  If any of you can help me add to it (particularly with Canadian cities!) I'd appreciate it!

Examples of Canadian and American municipalities that allow backy...

[Glenna Rose]

In Chicago

http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/travel/

[Janel Rickey]

I have a friend who lives in a big city.  They have a smaller back yard, but they have designed it to where they have chickens, ducks, Nigerians, rabbits and a pig that lives in their house/outside.  Plus a garden.  Its pretty wild around their place! LOL  The chickens and goats share a pen and they made a special feeder to keep the goats out of the chicken food.  It doesn't work very well when they are babies, but they bottle raise their babies, so they just separate the little ones from the chickens and the problem there is solved.  The neighbors have grown to love what they have and all the neighborhood kids come over to play with the animals.  It is pretty cool to see.... I think as long as you can provide them shelter, food, water and vet care when needed it is totally do able!!  Welcome to the group :0)

[Rachel Whetzel at MigMog Acres]

Goats in the city are TOTALLY doable!! Especially Nigerians, because they require so much less space than larger goats. I did a Google Search for CITY GOATS. 

Novella Carpenter keeps goats in the middle of Oakland, CA...

THIS SITE looks interesting... I haven't had a chance to read throu...

And in Seattle, WA, goats are legal to own in the city. :)

 

[Deborah Niemann-Boehle]

Welcome to the group. I've sold some goats to people in the city, most recently someone in Chicago. There are no specific livestock ordinances in Chicago other than to say that you are not allowed to keep animals for slaughter. Is that the type of thing that you're talking about when you say that it isn't technically legal? Basically if an animal is not prohibited, it is legal.

As for the neighbor's loud music, the goats seem unaffected by my daughters playing the radio in the milking parlor.

I'd suggest reading the posts on here about fencing and housing, as those will be your biggest challenges. If you have a garden, you can compost the manure and use that in the garden, so it shouldn't be a problem.