Dear Red Phone, I’m tired of being awakened at 4 a.m. every
morning by the neighbor’s roosters, which I believe is against the
city ordinance.
“Dear Red Phone, I’m tired of being awakened at 4 a.m. every morning by the neighbor’s roosters, which I believe is against the city ordinance. There’s one that seems as though it is practically in my bedroom because it’s so loud. They’re on Fernwood Lane. And there are more between Westwood and Laurel Drives near Third Street. These roosters answer one another between 4 and 7 a.m. I called the police about this last month and they said they’d come out and do something about it, but obviously they haven’t been successful. Thank you.”
Red Phone: Dear All Crowed Out,
Waking up at 4 a.m. when you don’t have to would bother anyone.
So, Red Phone contacted Jim Gillio, spokesperson for the Gilroy Police Department, who said anyone with this or a similar problem should contact Maria Cabatingan, the animal control officer, to give a better description of the location.
According to the Gilroy Municipal Code, swine, bees, chickens, roosters, peafowl, ostriches and other livestock are prohibited except in agricultural zones.
“If someone has a complaint, please have them call animal control at (408) 846-0350 with an address of the roosters and I will make contact. I will give the resident seven days to rid the property of the nuisance,” said Cabatingan.
So, good caller, there you have it. If these roosters are waking you up in an area that does not permit roosters, place a call to animal control. Hope you get some better sleep now.
Can’t see over the fence
“I called before about a house on the 1600 block of Anson Court but it was mistakingly printed as Hanson Court. I had asked about permits. You said they last about six months. What happens after that? It’s been about two years. Do they have to submit for new plans? How long can they get extensions on those plans?
Also, with the fences, I looked at fences according to Gilroy’s charter, and it says fences aren’t allowed to be over six feet tall. It also says fences are not allowed to be over a three-foot retaining wall. And side fences over here are six feet and they’re on an eight-foot retaining wall.
So, I’m curious, what happens with that? And they said they’re going to put mature trees out in front and do some landscaping, but it’s still the same. They haven’t done anything except clean it up a couple times. More pressing, I’m wondering if they can do anything with those fences. It’s like a billboard out there. Thank you very much.”
Red Phone: Dear Fenced In,
It certainly can be frustrating when you feel that others are not following the rules, as you are.
“Every permit issued by the building department expires if the work authorized by the permit is not commenced within 180 days, or the work is abandoned or suspended for a period of 180 days after the work is commenced. The city may however extend the expiration date up to 180 days when properly requested,” said Scott Barron, Gilroy’s code enforcement officer.
“With regards to fences, Gilroy Zoning Ordinance Section 34.31 allows fences to be constructed up to seven feet tall in residential districts. The height is always measured from the finished grade on the higher side of the fence. Although the address referenced below was not found in our system, it appears that the location may be within a planned unit development in which design exceptions are allowed,” said Barron.
It looks as if this property is a special development and thus allowed certain exceptions. However, in most cases, these rules as highlighted by Barron should be followed.
