Every morning before school, Pyper LaBlanc tucks herself under the hollow tail of a 6-foot-tall tin rooster in her Ogunquit yard. When the 6-year-old hears two honks from the school bus, she knows it’s time to leave her companion for the day.

Pyper’s family adopted her out of foster care three years ago, and since then, they’ve been collecting tin roosters and displaying them in front of their Route 1 home. Her father, Dave LaBlanc, said they bring joy and comfort to his daughter, who has autism.

The colorful row of giant birds has also become a popular tourist attraction, with buses full of visitors from as far away as Siberia and New Zealand stopping to take photos. LaBlanc has even heard that a former U.S. president snapped a photo, though he’s not sure which one or whether it’s just a rumor.

Now, the town is telling the family that its roosters are violating a town ordinance prohibiting business signage in front of a home. The LaBlancs own The Omelette Factory, which is attached to their house, though they say the roosters are not meant to promote their business.

Ogunquit officials have fined the family close to $1,000 for the violations.

“We moved to Ogunquit to raise our child because it’s a beautiful community, and we love it,” LaBlanc said. “It’s just this one little thing.”

The fines started small a few months ago. The first was $150, for having too many roosters. So the family decided to tone it down, displaying only the most festive ones; LaBanc said they tucked others behind the bushes, hoping they would blend in.

When the next letter from the town doubled the fine, the LaBlancs decided to appeal.

The LaBlancs have 24 roosters, including a few Pride-themed ones. (Courtesy of Dave LaBlanc)

At a June 11 Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, officials approved a variance of the ordinance to allow the roosters as a comfort structure for Pyper, so long as they have no signage promoting The Omelette Factory.

LaBlanc sometimes rewards Pyper for an extraordinarily good day with a trip to play with the small yellow chicks at Tractor Supply Co. During one such visit, a rooster sculpture caught Pyper’s eye, and it became her first tin friend. Her collection has since grown to 24 roosters.

The family used to display several of the sculptures at a time, but the zoning board decided on a strict two-rooster limit. They also have to be permanently attached to the family’s home, LaBlanc said. 

So, the roosters were affixed to the LeBlancs’ home with bolts and chains, and the display dwindled from six to two.

Days later, the LaBlancs got a third fine, now for $500. This time, the town requested documentation for how the issue would be resolved.

“Do I go out and buy a giant bolt and bolt it right through the rooster’s head into the pillar?” LaBlanc said. “Is that permanent enough?”

“Do I go out and buy a giant bolt and bolt it right through the rooster’s head into the pillar? Is that permanent enough?”

Dave LaBlanc

Code Enforcement Officer Tyler McOsker told Seacoastonline that he is fine with the roosters being displayed at certain times of the year, like over the holidays. The LaBlancs said that was never communicated to them.

In an emailed statement, Assistant Town Manager Mandy Cummings said the town’s actions are not discretionary enforcement.

“The town does not have the authority to disregard either the ordinances adopted by voters, or the conditions and decisions established through the public zoning board of appeals process. Our code enforcement officer is carrying out the responsibilities of his office,” she said in the statement, adding that town officials would not be commenting any further on the matter.

While the LaBlancs are adamant that the sculptures are not advertising, the town has insisted they are. McOsker said at the June 11 meeting that he believes the restaurant’s signage is directly related to the tin roosters.

The roosters do not have Omelette Factory signage on them, but they do feature a symbol meant to spread autism awareness for Pyper, LaBlanc said.

The Omelette Factory does use a rooster as its logo, and there is one on servers’ uniforms. But they are meant to pay homage to Pyper, her father said.

Pyper LaBlanc hides under the tail of an Easter-themed rooster before school in April 2025. (Courtesy of Dave LaBlanc)

“It’s like a family crest, almost,” LaBlanc said. “It’s not like we’re serving rooster eggs.”

The LaBlancs have not paid the fines yet but are planning to soon. LaBlanc said they will not accept donations — the family will use its own money, albeit under protest.

A Facebook page dedicated to the roosters started with the name “Pyper’s Roosters.” Her father said it was changed to “The Roosters of Ogunquit” after she asked why they were just hers.

“They make you happy,” LaBlanc says he told her. “And she says, ‘But don’t they make other people happy?’ They do, and that’s the whole point.”

Pyper and her family intend to keep advocating for their roosters, LaBlanc said, and are hoping to find a solution with the town.