COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
SUBJECT:
2nd Reading Ordinance No. 2026-O-12: Permitting the ownership and housing of chickens in
residential areas
DEPARTMENT:
Police
SUMMARY:
In May, City Council provided consensus for staff to research and bring forward an ordinance that would allow the ownership and housing of chickens on residential properties within the City of Edgewater. In response, staff reviewed backyard chicken ordinances from municipalities throughout Florida and developed a proposed framework intended to fit Edgewater’s residential makeup, neighborhood conditions, enforcement capacity, and policy goals.
The proposed ordinance would amend Section 5-8 of the City Code to remove chickens from the city’s prohibited-animal provision and create a new Section 5-9 governing residential backyard chickens. The ordinance would establish permitting requirements, property eligibility standards, coop and enclosure requirements, sanitation standards, enforcement procedures, permit revocation authority, and appeal rights.
Under the proposed framework, residential backyard chickens would be allowed only on eligible residential properties; roosters would remain prohibited. Standard residential lots under one-half acre would be allowed up to five hens, while eligible lots of one-half acre or larger would be allowed up to seven hens. Chickens may be kept as pets, for personal egg harvesting, or for other lawful personal household purposes. Commercial sales, breeding, boarding, barter, or other business-related use would be prohibited.
Residents would be required to obtain a backyard chicken permit before keeping hens. A $25 permit and inspection fee would apply; however, the fee may be waived for an initial applicant who completes a city-approved backyard chicken course and submits compliant coop and enclosure plans at the time of application. Training would be optional for an initial permit unless the applicant seeks the fee waiver, but training would be mandatory for any reapplication following permit revocation.
The proposed ordinance requires chickens to be housed in a rear-yard coop and run that meets minimum construction, setback, sanitation, predator-resistance, feed-storage, and waste-management requirements. The proposed ordinance would also require any property housing residential backyard chickens to have an opaque fence or screening sufficient to substantially shield the chicken-keeping area from view from adjacent properties, rights-of-way, and public areas.
Enforcement would be primarily complaint-based, while still allowing the City to act upon direct observation or concerns involving public health, safety, sanitation, animal welfare, or nuisance conditions. Permit holders would agree to reasonable planned or unplanned compliance inspections conducted in accordance with applicable law. A homeowner may refuse an inspection; however, refusal to allow a lawful and reasonable compliance inspection would result in permit revocation and referral to the code enforcement process.
BUDGETED ITEM: ☐ Yes ☐ No ☒ Not Applicable
BUDGET AMENDMENT REQUIRED: ☐ Yes ☐ No ☒ Not Applicable
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Staff recommends City Council approve the proposed residential backyard chicken ordinance on second reading, if Council wishes to formally establish the ordinance and associated permitting process. The ordinance was approved on first reading without additions or deletions, and no further substantive changes are proposed at this time. Approval on second reading would place the ordinance into effect and allow staff to proceed with implementation of the permitting and administrative process.