Deltona discusses loosening backyard chicken limits; commission signals 10‑bird cap and retained personal‑use restriction

The Deltona City Commission on May 8 reviewed proposed changes to the city’s chicken permit rules and discussed allowing more backyard hens on larger parcels while preserving neighborhood protections.

Why it matters: Commissioners and residents framed the issue as balancing household food‑security and sustainability benefits with potential nuisance impacts (noise, smell, loose animals and unpermitted sales). Commissioners asked staff to draft clear limits and enforcement language that protect neighbors while allowing responsible backyard producers.

What the current proposal and discussion covered City staff presented draft amendments to Chapter 14 (Animals) — sections 14‑281 and 14‑282 — that would increase the number of chickens allowed by lot size and relax some accessory‑structure requirements with screening. The draft retained several operational requirements (coops in rear yards, setbacks and general nuisance prohibitions).

Public speakers and commission comments Three residents spoke in favor of loosening limits and described small‑scale egg production and home gardening; one said the existing fence and coop at his waterfront property appeared to be older than his ownership and that enforcement had been inconsistent. Longtime local gardeners and volunteers said they would provide free community training on care and husbandry.

Commissioner positions and specific points - Personal use vs. sales: Commissioners repeatedly returned to a provision from the existing ordinance that limited backyard poultry to personal use and prohibited sales and breeding for commerce. Several commissioners urged that language remain to avoid creating unregulated commercial activity from backyard coops. Commissioner McCool said, "Selling chicken eggs or chicken manure or breeding of chickens is prohibited" should remain in the ordinance. - Proposed bird counts: Commissioners debated allowing as many as 15 birds on larger lots but signaled a compromise. After discussion, several commissioners and members of the public recommended starting with a cap of 10 birds on half‑acre lots (with a smaller, proportional allowance on quarter‑acre and typical city lots); staff were asked to translate that direction into draft ordinance language and to return with numbers and options. - Enforcement and nuisance concerns: Commissioners and staff noted existing code provisions for loose animals and stray complaints; planning and code compliance staff said complaints had been relatively limited historically but would provide exact counts. Vice Mayor Bradford and others said permits and training help ensure responsible ownership. - Training and outreach: Commissioners and residents noted existing or planned educational offerings (the agricultural center and library classes) and encouraged staff to publicize training for permit holders.

Staff data and follow up Staff said they would provide numbers on existing chicken permits and the number of complaints in recent years (staff indicated code compliance records showed on the order of a few dozen complaints over multiple years but that staff would supply exact counts). Commissioners asked staff to return with an ordinance draft reflecting the commission’s direction (a lower initial cap tied to lot size, retention of a personal‑use prohibition on sales, and clarity on coops, setbacks and permitted structures).

(Quotes in this article are from Commissioner McCool, Vice Mayor Bradford, Jim Pescha and commission discussion at the May 8 workshop.)