ChickenMap · Ordinance lookup

Can I have chickens in West Palm Beach, FL?

Backyard chickens are not allowed here

These are the City of West Palm Beach’s own rules, and they apply inside the city limits.

If your address is outside the city limits — a West Palm Beachmailing 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 Palm Beach County— see the section below. Check your parcel’s jurisdiction to know which of the two applies to you.

Inside West Palm Beach city limits — residential zoning

Outside the city limits? See unincorporated Palm Beach County ↓

Hen limit: Not specified
Roosters: Not allowed
Permit: Not required
Setback: Not specified

Chickens are not allowed within West Palm Beach city limits (Code of Ordinances, Chapter 14, Animals). This entry covers the City of West Palm Beach's own code only — see the agricultural section for the separate county jurisdiction.

Keeping a rooster here? West Palm Beach 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.

Rehome your rooster Compare rooster rules in other cities

View the source ordinanceLast verified July 20, 2026

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 Palm Beach County, agricultural land

Different jurisdiction — unincorporated Palm Beach County, not the City of West Palm Beach. This applies only if your property is both outside West Palm Beach city limits and zoned agricultural. Confirm both before relying on it.

Bird limit: Acreage-tiered↓ see notes below
Roosters: Not specified
Permit: Not specified
Setback: 50 ft

Bird limits here are tiered by acreage, not a flat cap — see the notes below.

IMPORTANT JURISDICTION CAVEAT: this applies to UNINCORPORATED PALM BEACH COUNTY agricultural/rural zoning (AR/RSA, AR/USA, RE districts), NOT any individual city. A property must be both outside city limits and in one of these county zoning districts. Birds are permitted as an accessory use in these districts per the county's Unified Land Development Code (ULDC). Under the 'Aviculture, Hobby Breeder' use category, a 2012 ULDC excerpt showed acreage-tiered limits (2 acres: 40-200 birds; 5 acres: 201+ birds), shelters/cages setback minimum 50 ft from all property lines, screened by a 6 ft opaque fence. Hobby breeders capped at housing 40 birds at a time and selling no more than 24 birds publicly per 12-month period.

View the source ordinanceLast verified July 20, 2026

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.