Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Agriculture And Zoning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
New Port Richey game-bird farmer says rooster citation followed zoning confusion
Summary
A New Port Richey resident who operates a registered game-bird farm told commissioners she received a citation for keeping roosters after learning her parcel is zoned ER rather than AR; she said she moved the birds farther on her lot and asked for help resolving the enforcement matter.
A New Port Richey resident told the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners on March 25 that she received a citation for roosters after discovering her property is zoned differently than she expected and asked the county for help resolving the issue.
"My family and I have a registered game bird farm off Tanglewood called Bontro Funny Farm," said Darby Troffe, who identified her address and described breeding quail, pheasant and chickens under sustainable practices. Troffe said she had been told her property was zoned AR but later found it is zoned ER and that she had received a citation for a rooster.
Troffe described steps she said she took to comply: annual blood testing of birds through the county's avian program, holding a limited poultry license that allows on-site butchering and sales, and moving her birds 1.5 acres away from a complaining neighbor after the citation. "We have made efforts to follow every rule," she told commissioners.
Why it matters: The case highlights ambiguity residents sometimes face when zoning designations change or when new owners inherit undocumented structures or uses. Troffe said the farm provides eggs and education in her neighborhood and asked the county to find a way to allow her operation to continue.
What happened next: Troffe said she had reached out to county offices but was seeking board-level awareness; commissioners did not take immediate formal action but several asked staff to review the zoning and permitting history and to advise Troffe on next steps.
Ending: Troffe said she moved the birds to reduce impact on neighbors and will pursue staff guidance on permits or a potential zoning adjustment.
