Roosters Have the Right to Crow as They Please… by Law

The French Parliament recently adopted a new law granting roosters the right to crow in the morning or at any time they wish in rural areas. The new "Country Sounds and Smells Law" aims to provide more protection for existing farms against newly arrived residents in the area. Following the enactment of the law, city dwellers who move to live in rural France and typically complain about rooster crows, dog barks, agricultural noise, or the smell of manure will not find sufficient support for their noise and nuisance complaints. The French Parliament adopted this law to reduce disputes between neighbors and avoid "frivolous" lawsuits from "newcomers to the countryside" against farmers. The bill, presented by parliamentary majority member Nicole Lobe, and supported by President Emmanuel Macron's centrist government, was approved by a majority of 78 votes to 12 and will now be forwarded to the Senate. It is worth noting that in 2019, a rooster named Maurice, living on the Île de Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron in the new Aquitaine region, was allowed to continue crowing after the complainants lost their case against the rooster's owner. However, the new law is broader, stating that no resident may use the law to challenge the activities of farmers who were operating in the rural area before their arrival. Therefore, if a neighbor is disturbed by an activity carried out before their arrival, they will not be able to file a complaint.