ChickenMap · Ordinance lookup
Can I have chickens in Orlando, FL?
Yes, with conditions
Allowed, but with specific rules you must meet
These are the City of Orlando’s own rules, and they apply inside the city limits.
If your address is outside the city limits — a Orlandomailing address on unincorporated county land is common — your county’s code governs instead, and it may reach a different answer, particularly about roosters. We have researched unincorporated Orange County— see the section below. Check your parcel’s jurisdiction to know which of the two applies to you.
Inside Orlando city limits — residential zoning
Outside the city limits? See unincorporated Orange County ↓
- Hen limit
- 4 hens
- Roosters
- Not allowed
- Permit
- Required
- Setback
- Not specified
Permit: Backyard Chicken Permit required from the City of Orlando; the fee is set by Council Resolution rather than in the ordinance.
Coop rules: Chickens must be secured at all times in a covered coop, chicken tractor, or fenced pen/run, completely secured against predators with hardware cloth or similar material — chicken wire is expressly not permitted. Composting of chicken manure is allowed in an enclosed bin, which must be kept at least 20 ft from all property lines. Chickens are allowed only at single-family residences; duplexes, triplexes, townhomes, multifamily properties and community gardens are excluded.
Ordinance made permanent after a 2-year pilot program (Ordinance 2016-79). Ducks, geese, turkeys, peafowl, roosters, and pigeons are not allowed. The city sets no minimum distance between the coop and your property lines or your neighbours' homes — the only distance rule is that a manure compost bin must sit at least 20 ft from all property lines. Chickens must be kept for personal use only: selling eggs, feathers or manure and breeding are prohibited, as is slaughtering on the premises. This entry (and the zoning_rules.residential view below) covers the CITY of Orlando's own municipal code, applicable within Orlando city limits.
Keeping a rooster here? Orlando does not allow them inside the city limits, so if you are within them, a complaint is usually all it takes to start a clock. Posting him is free, and there is no sign-up form — you confirm the post by email, and that link sets up a free account so you can edit or remove it later.
This is general information compiled from public ordinances, not legal advice. Rules change — confirm with the source and your local authority before keeping birds.
Outside the city limits — unincorporated Orange County, agricultural land
Different jurisdiction — unincorporated Orange County, not the City of Orlando. This applies only if your property is both outside Orlando city limits and zoned agricultural. Confirm both before relying on it.
- Bird limit
- Acreage-tiered↓ see table below
- Roosters
- Allowed
- Permit
- Not required
- Setback
- 30 ft
Bird limits here are tiered by acreage, not a flat cap:
| Acreage | Max poultry |
|---|---|
| Up to 5 acres | 30 poultry |
| 5–10 acres | 100 poultry |
| Over 10 acres | Higher tiers — see source |
IMPORTANT JURISDICTION CAVEAT: this rule is UNINCORPORATED ORANGE COUNTY code (Sec. 38-79(36)), not any individual city's code. It applies to agriculturally-zoned land in the county outside city limits — a property must actually be both (a) outside city limits and (b) zoned agricultural for this to apply; verify both before showing this answer. Acreage-tiered limits: up to 5 acres = max 30 poultry; 5-10 acres = max 100 poultry; over 10 acres = higher tiers (not fully captured here, see source for full table); amounts above tier limit require a special exception. Setback: 30 ft from all property lines and from any lake/water body high-water line. Waste may not be piled within 100 ft of any residentially zoned district. Bona fide agricultural businesses exempt from FL Statutes are not subject to this subsection at all. A separate exemption exists for 4-H/FFA educational poultry programs (up to 12 birds, max 6 months).
Check your HOA before you buy a single chick.
Even where local ordinance allows backyard chickens, a homeowners association or deed restriction can prohibit them entirely — and HOA rules override a city’s “yes.” Read your HOA’s covenants (CC&Rs) in addition to the city/county rules on this page.