Send a Letter
Thank you for taking the time to share your support for backyard chickens with your Baltimore County council people. You can follow these simple steps to send your email or letter of support:
- If you are sending an email title your email “I Support Backyard Chickens in Baltimore County”
- Copy (Ctrl/Cmd + C) the text below
- Open up your email provider and start a new message.
- Paste (Ctrl/Cmd + V) the text into the new message window and replace your councilman/woman’s last name as well as your name at the bottom of the message. There is also room for an optional personal section.
Not sure who your representative is? Find out by clicking the button below.
Representative Contact Information
District One – Councilman Tom Quirk
council1@baltimorecountymd.gov
District Office
754 Frederick Road
Catonsville, MD 21228
410-887-0896
410-887-1012 (fax)
Hours: M-F 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Towson Office
400 Washington Ave.
Towson, MD 21204
410-887-3386
410-887-5791
Legislative Aides
Cathy Engers, Senior Council Assistant
Margaret Stokes, Legislative Aide
Brian P. Morris, Legislative Aide
District Two – Councilman Israel “Izzy” Patoka
council2@baltimorecountymd.gov
Towson Office
400 Washington Avenue
Towson, Maryland 21204
410-887-3385
410-887-5791 (fax)
Hours: M-F 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Legislative Aides
Justin Silberman, Senior Legislative Aide
Ashley Wallington, Legislative Aide
Carlos Gonzalez, Legislative Aide
District Three – Councilman Wade Kach
council3@baltimorecountymd.gov
Towson Office
400 Washington Ave.
Towson, MD 21204
410-887-3387
410-887-5791 (fax)
Legislative Aides
Ryan Fried, Chief of Staff
Joanne Kozak, Legislative Assistant
Roger Yeager, Legislative Assistant
District Four – Councilman Julian E. Jones, Jr.
council4@baltimorecountymd.gov
Towson Office
400 Washington Ave.
Towson, MD 21204
410-887-3389
410-887-5791 (fax)
District Office
Liberty Family Resource Center
3525 Resource Drive
Randallstown, Maryland 21133
410-887-0784
Hours by Appointment
Legislative Aides
Chrissandra Caldwell, Senior Legislative Assistant
Danita Jones, Legislative Aide
Trevor Jones, Legislative Aide
District Five – Councilman David Marks
council5@baltimorecountymd.gov
Towson Office
400 Washington Ave.
Towson, MD 21204
410-887-3384
410-887-5791 (fax)
Hours: M-F 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Perry Hall Office
Seven Oaks Senior Center
9210 Seven Courts Drive
Perry Hall, Maryland 21236
By Appointment, Please Call 410-887-3384
Staff
Paula Houck, Senior Legislative Advisor
Bradley Lang, Legislative Assistant and Eastern Community Liaison
Judi Coleman, Community Liaison for Towson
District Six – Councilwoman Cathy Bevins
council6@baltimorecountymd.gov
Towson Office
400 Washington Ave.
Towson, MD 21204
410-887-3388
410-887-5791 (fax)
Hours: M-F 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
District Office
7856 Belair Rd.
Baltimore, MD 21236
410-887-3388
410-887-5410 (fax)
Staff
Doris Franz-Poling, Legislative Aide
District Seven – Councilman Todd K. Crandell
council7@baltimorecountymd.gov
District Office
7839 Eastpoint Mall Suite 307
Baltimore, MD 21224
410-887-3383
410-285-7838 (fax)
Towson Office
400 Washington Ave.
Towson, MD 21204
410-887-3383
410-887-5791 (fax)
Legislative Aides
Doug Anderson, Senior Council Assistant
Ron Metzger, Legislative Aide
Cleo Everd, Legislative Aide
Linda Hoffer, Legislative Aide
Template Letter
Dear Councilman (or Councilperson) [LAST NAME],
As a constituent in your district of Baltimore County, I am writing to express my support for changing the current law regarding keeping backyard chickens in Baltimore County, MD, specifically eliminating the requirement for a minimum of one (1) acre of land.
Currently, according to the section of the law found in §100.6 of the Baltimore County Zoning Regulations (BCZR), county residents are required to have a minimum of one (1) acre of land to be able to keep and raise backyard chickens. Since it is a requirement under the BCZR, county residents who do not own a lot that is an acre or more in size are required to navigate a lengthy, confusing and expensive process to request a variance from the Baltimore County Zoning Review Office. Unfortunately, the variance process is designed for and much better suited to requesting variances related to construction and land development. There is also no guarantee that the request will be approved.
[OPTIONAL personal experience message on variance process here. Keep it brief and within the context of the Backyard Chicken Caucus’s key messaging]
We are advocating for the law to be reworked in a more equitable fashion that is based on common sense, scientific facts, and addresses the issue in a way that is constructive and designed to truly care about the welfare of both county residents and the chickens that are at the heart of the issue. As a member or supporter of the Backyard Chicken Caucus for Baltimore County, I support the mission to seek and secure changes to the Baltimore County Code so that: 1) the requirement for a minimum of 1-acre of land is no longer a barrier, and 2) the County adopts common sense, factually informed laws regarding the keeping and raising of backyard chickens.
The Backyard Chicken Caucus also has a mission to provide education and resources to backyard chicken owners as well as to the county residents we call our neighbors. Now more than ever as more and more people try their hand at owning backyard chickens as an unanticipated result of the current pandemic, it is important to educate everyone on how to successfully raise their flocks. It is not just enough to legalize backyard chickens, declare victory and then exit stage left. By providing education and resources about pet chickens, it will benefit not only the backyard flock but also surrounding neighbors and communities. The Backyard Chicken Caucus wants to ensure that backyard chickens can co-exist peacefully with others in a neighborhood setting.
I am asking you to consider sponsoring/supporting legislation to change the existing Baltimore County law and join with the many hundreds of Baltimore County residents who have signed the petition created by the Caucus in support of this movement. You can learn more about backyard chickens and read about common myths surrounding backyard chickens as well learn the truth that dispels those myths or learn more about the Caucus and the work they are doing at Backyard Chicken Caucus for Baltimore County.
Thank you for your time and I welcome any questions you might have.
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
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