Commissioners direct staff to study backyard‑chicken rules after resident appeals

A resident's request to allow backyard chickens for food security prompted the City Commission to ask staff to research regulatory models and return with options for Hollywood.

Georgette (last name given in public comment) told the commission she had recently kept chickens off her property and asked the city to consider allowing pet hens (not roosters) so residents could produce eggs locally: “we should be able to have a pet chicken,” she said. Vice Mayor Quintana said she supported the idea and recommended staff look at Miami‑Dade County’s ordinance as a starting point. Other commissioners asked staff to also review Davie’s rules and to return with a package that addresses registration, minimum yard area, species limits, and enforcement mechanisms.

Why this matters: commissioners framed the request as a response to rising food costs and community interest. At the same time they raised standard concerns about neighbor impacts, noise, sanitation and enforcement; one commissioner recalled past conflicts tied to roosters and ritual practices and urged safeguards.

Discussion focused on options for a controlled program rather than an immediate code change. Commissioners suggested a registration and inspection model (similar to vacation‑rental or business registration systems) that would require an owner agreement to allow city inspection and provide enforcement leverage; staff indicated they would bring back examples and legal considerations. The city manager said staff would prepare a comparative review showing how nearby jurisdictions regulate yard hens, including setbacks, maximum animal counts, prohibitions on roosters, and penalties for violations.

Next steps: staff to return with a research package and ordinance options for the commission’s consideration, including enforcement and registration mechanisms.