Crackdown on chickens working

Published 11:41 pm Friday, September 21, 2007

Chickens beware.

A code enforcement report to the Dalton Public Works Committee Friday said code enforcement officials had logged a dozen investigations of people keeping chickens since Aug. 20.

By contrast, there were just seven chicken investigations between June 6 and Aug. 20.

City law bans people from keeping most farm or game animals, including chickens, within city limits.

Enforcement officials gave each person cited seven days notice to remove the chickens, and in all but one case the chickens were gone when the inspector returned. In that case, the person was given a citation. If found guilty, that person could face a fine of up to $100 or up to 40 hours of community service per violation.

Building inspector Greg Williams says the number of chickens in the city probably hasn’t increased. Rather, he says enforcement of code violations, including keeping chickens, has gotten more proactive.

In fact, the report shows eight of the investigations were initiated by code enforcement officials themselves or by reports from the Dalton Police Department rather than from citizen complaints.