TUMWATER, Wash. — A noise complaint over a rooster has turned into a nearly $10,000 fine for a Tumwater family.
Mike Johnson has two roosters on his two-plus-acre Tumwater property. But the city of Tumwater has found since Johnson's home is in a neighborhood zoned for single-family, medium-density dwellings, it's illegal for him to own roosters.
The Johnsons received their first complaint last September. Then in December, the city began fining the Johnson family $100 a day. After 98 days, with the fine totaling $9,800, Johnson appealed the city’s ruling and went before a hearing examiner last week.
A decision is expected within the next week.
"We’re not going to give up," said Johnson, who said he might take the city to court to protect his roosters.
He said state law allows him to have roosters.
Tumwater city spokesperson Ann Cook said that law only applies to commercial farms. She said the Johnsons are not a commercial farm.
Cook said the city warned Johnson before issuing the fines.
“That didn’t need to happen,” said Cook.
Johnson said his wife has a license for a nursery on the property and they consider it a commercial farm.
In addition to the roosters' reproductive duties, Johnson said they help protect the chickens and goats from birds of prey.
He has placed Velcro straps around the necks of his two roosters, which Johnson said limits their volume.