Has anyone successfully fought a city bylaw against owning reptiles?

Have you given thought to contacting the local Ombudsman? I believe that it is their job evaluate 'unfair' laws and acts of the government. Being able to keep reptiles as a store but not sell them and "non-venomous reptiles the will not cause injury" but being told to remove them anyway I think that if the local guy can't help the Ombudsman might be able to. It might be worth a call and find out.
Keep us posted as to how it is going. Good luck!
Alex

Unfortunately, by-laws that restrict the size of reptiles or ban them altogether cannot be considered "unfair" as they take 99% of the population into consideration.
With regards to starting up an internet store from your home, you will have to go through the process of changing your home zoning from residential to residential/commercial. That's more work than fighting the "unfair" bylaw.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but since you've already been called out by the by-law officer for breaking whatever by-law you broke, you're SOL.
If this does blow over, do your best to keep your collection to yourself (inside your home) as most breeders and hobbyists that live in a by-law unfriendly community do. That's why things like this happen.
Good luck.

Forgot the main crux of your original post; yes, bylaws have been fought and changed. The Pawleys did it in Kitchener. They are intelligent, well-spoken reptile educators who are well-known in the community that they spoke up for. They also did not attempt to change to he bylaws after being caught breaking the law they were trying to change, so they had that going for them as well.

i would have to say any well thought out argument is at least worth the listen and gets questions asked. straight forward and honest throughout and changes can be considered over time or at least a half way point

This is not exactly the same scenario, but I am working on getting a one day exemption granted for holding annual one day reptile expo and sales in a city here in central Wisconsin. So far though, I have not received any definitive answers or decision from the City public protection committee. It could be a process that may take several weeks given they meet only monthly.

Eric

Regarding fighting these ordinances in general though, I believe you will stand a much greater chance of succeeding if you present yourself professionally to them and provide as much detailed and factual information as possible about the animals. It also helps to be honest and upfront with them. The less questions they have to ask, the greater your chances IMO. If you emphasize that most of these animals are small and harmless, and will be kept in secure caging that they cannot escape from, and that you are a responsible pet owner, you may turn some receptive ears as well. Now this is not to say this is 100% guranteed to work, but your chances will be greater if you try this than if you do not.

Eric

You can always file a variance with the city. That is what I did when they stated I had to get rid of my two 9ft plus peruvian red tails. They stated they were "dangerous and could kill a baby" I had to fill out some paperwork, I had a petition and had it signed by everyone who has held my snakes, took pictures with my snakes around little kids to show they were no threat and came up with a powerpoint since I was given the right to fight in front of a city council which was making the decision. In the powerpoint I had the history of the snakes, pictures from when they were babies, their enclosure, highlighting the lock on the enclosure and how they are never in contact with "babies" alone. Their whole arguement as to why I couldn't get the snakes were rediculous. I had to pay $350 whether or not I won the variance or not.

Long story short, and many 'heated' phonecalls later to the chief city inspector who required I get rid of them ended up in me losing and having to get rid of the snakes or move.

If I were you and there was no way around it, I'd get everything out when they check and move it back in and just don't let your kid play in the front yard with them.

People are ignorant to these animals and fear them which is why they come up with such rediculous laws.