Are Chickens Allowed in Orange County, Florida?

BySusan Medlin

Yes — Orange County, Florida *does allow* chickens under certain conditions. The county passed an ordinance (Ordinance 2021-34) that permits backyard chickens for residents in detached single-family homes (and mobile homes in some cases), but there are strict rules about zoning, coop setup, number of hens, and what poultry is allowed. Below is a detailed breakdown of what is and isn’t permitted, what you need to do, and what to check for your specific property.

What the Law Says in Orange County

  • Ordinance 2021-34 was adopted to allow chickens in unincorporated areas of Orange County where the property is zoned and developed with a detached single-family residence. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
  • The relevant code is Section 38-79(37) of the Orange County Code. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
  • Poultry raising on agriculturally zoned properties is already permitted under a separate portion of the code (Section 38-79(36)). So rules are different depending on whether you’re in residential or agricultural zoning. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Key Rules / Restrictions You Have to Follow

  • You must live in an **owner-occupied detached single-family home** or an owner-occupied mobile home in qualifying zones. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
  • The property’s zoning must be one of the specific residential zoning designations that are eligible—e.g. R-1AAAA, R-1AAA, R-1AA, R-1A, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-CE-C, RT-1, RT-2, R-L-D, NC, NAC, or NR. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
  • Only **hens** are allowed (i.e., female chickens). Roosters and other poultry (ducks, turkeys, geese, etc.) are *not* permitted in the residential backyard program. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
  • You may have up to **four (4) hens**. No breeding, selling eggs, or slaughtering allowed. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
  • You must complete the **University of Florida / IFAS Extension Orange County “Backyard Chicken Training Class”** before your permit. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

Coop, Setback, & Enclosure Requirements

  • The chicken coop and pen/run must follow specific setback distances from property lines, neighboring dwellings, and certain landscape features. For example:
    • Rear setback: 10 feet from rear property line. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
    • Side setback: 15 feet from side property lines. (Including when on a corner lot, side street setback also applies). :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
    • Distance from wetlands, upland buffers, conservation areas, berms, swales, etc.: also generally 10 feet. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
    • If near a water body, from “Normal High Water Elevation” of the water body: 50 feet. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
  • The design of coop/pen must include a site plan showing details (area, materials, tie-downs etc.). :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}
  • You must display a county-issued permit sign for 7 days in a visible place after the permit is issued. :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}

Permit & Process Details

  • You need a **Residential Backyard Chicken Permit**. :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}
  • There is a fee for the permit (for example, $57). :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}
  • The permit is **non-transferrable** and only valid for the property and property owner named. :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}
  • Only a certain number of permits are available (in unincorporated Orange County). Originally, 130 permits were made available on a first-come, first-served basis. :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}
  • You need to submit documentation such as:
    • A completed application form. :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}
    • Proof of completion of the Backyard Chicken Training Class. :contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}
    • A site plan for coop/pen. :contentReference[oaicite:20]{index=20}

What Is Not Allowed

  • No roosters or any male chickens. :contentReference[oaicite:21]{index=21}
  • No ducks, turkeys, geese, or other poultry under the residential backyard program. :contentReference[oaicite:22]{index=22}
  • No commercial use: you can’t sell eggs, slaughter chickens, or sell chickens under this permit. :contentReference[oaicite:23]{index=23}
  • You must keep chickens confined (coop/pen), not free-roaming. :contentReference[oaicite:24]{index=24}

Summary

So yes — chickens (hens) *are allowed* in certain parts of Orange County, Florida under the backyard chicken permit program. If you live in an eligible zone, are owner-occupant of a single-family detached home (or mobile home in allowable zones), take the required training, submit the required plans, and follow setback & coop rules, you can legally keep up to 4 hens. But roosters, other fowl species, commercial sales, and non-compliant setup are not allowed.

If you tell me your address or the zoning of your property in Orange County, I can check whether *your specific property* is eligible under the ordinance. Do you want me to look that up for you?