Okaloosa County BOCC — August 19, 2014 — Pinellas County Chicken Regulations — reading text

Pinellas County Sec. 138-1348. Chickens. (a) General conditions for the keeping of chickens in the R-1 through R-6 zoning districts. (1) For the purposes of this section of the Code, the term "chicken" refers to female chickens only (i.e., hens). (2) Up to four chickens may be kept within an occupied single-family property located in the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, and R-6 zoning districts. Chickens may be kept within manufactured home subdivisions, but not on duplex, triplex or multifamily properties, or within mobile home/manufactured home parks. (3) Chickens must be kept within the coop or enclosure at all times. (4) Ducks, geese, turkeys, peafowl, male chickens/roosters, or any other poultry or fowl are not allowed under the provisions of this section of the Code. (5) Chickens shall be kept for personal use only. Selling chickens, eggs, or chicken manure, or the breeding of chickens for commercial purposes is prohibited. (6) Chickens shall not be slaughtered on premises. (7) The coop and enclosure must be screened from the neighbor's view, using an opaque fence and/or a landscape screen. (b) Location and requirements for chicken coops and enclosures in the R-1 through R-6 zoning districts. (1) Any chicken coop and fenced enclosure must be located in the rear yard. No coop or enclosure shall be allowed in any front or side yard. (Corner lots shall be excluded from the side setback restriction). (2) The coop and enclosure must be a minimum of ten feet from the rear and side property line. (3) If the coop structure exceeds 100 square feet in size (ten-foot by ten-foot), a building permit is required under the Florida Building Code. (4) The coop shall be covered and ventilated, and a fenced enclosure/run is required. The coop and enclosure must be completely secured from predators, including all openings, ventilation holes, doors and gates (fencing or roofing is required over the enclosure in addition to the coop, in order to protect the chickens from predators). (5) All stored feed must be kept in a rodent and predator-proof container. (6) The coop shall provide a minimum of three square feet per chicken and be of sufficient size to permit free movement of the chickens. The coop may not be taller than six feet, measured from the natural grade, and must be easily accessible for cleaning and maintenance. (c) Health, sanitation and nuisance as applied to the keeping of chickens in the R-1 through R-6 zoning districts.  (1) Chickens shall be kept within a coop and enclosure. No person shall release or set any chicken free from such coop or enclosure. (2) Chicken coops and enclosures shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition at all times. Chickens shall not be permitted to create a nuisance consisting of odor, noise or pests, or contribute to any other nuisance condition. (d) Enforcement. (1) Enforcement regarding the keeping of chickens within any zoning district is addressed within section 138-54 of this Code. (2) In a public health emergency declared by the Director of the Pinellas County Health Department, including but not limited to an outbreak of Avian Flu or West Nile virus, the county may require immediate corrective action in accordance with applicable public health regulations and procedures. (3) No person convicted as a repeat violator of subsections 138-1348(a) through (d) of this Code may be permitted to, or continue to, keep chickens on their premises. Repeat violators are as defined in section 138-1 of this Code.