Is your chicken coop too close to the property line? You may want to check again. The city of Willoughby, Ohio, has a ordinance that prohibits homeowners from having structures within five feet of the property line. In City of Willoughby v. Lewis, the defendant had a "mobile" chicken coop adjacent to the fence that ran along the property line. It was not attached to the ground or the fence (it was right next to it, however) and so it was not a "structure" as defined in the city ordinance. So on appeal the defendant's conviction for violating WCO 1131.11(a) was reversed for lack of evidence.
If you are accused of a crime or have been convicted already, contact me if you can afford to hire a private attorney. Otherwise, contact your county or state public defender to see if they can help.
