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Commission approves pilot allowing backyard hens with conditions; amendment shortens trial to 18 months
Summary
After debate, the Hallandale Beach City Commission approved a pilot program allowing backyard chickens with restrictions (no roosters, setbacks, coop rules) and amended the originally proposed two-year pilot to an 18-month trial on an amended ordinance modeled on other Florida city codes.
The Hallandale Beach City Commission on Aug. 20 approved an urban backyard-chicken ordinance as a pilot program and amended the original proposal to shorten the trial period to 18 months.
Commissioner Lee Matau sponsored the ordinance, which was based on language from other Florida cities. The proposed code sets conditions for keeping backyard hens (no roosters), coop setbacks, maximum flock sizes tied to lot configuration, sanitation and enclosure requirements, and nuisance controls. The staff report and sponsor characterized the measure as an experimental local policy to assess neighborhood impacts.
During second-reading debate commissioners asked for clarifications and amendments. Mayor Joy Cooper asked that the rules accommodate single-family settings rather than duplex-only configurations; the commission adopted that amendment. Commissioner Adams proposed shortening the pilot period; after discussion the sponsor accepted an amendment changing the trial from two years to 18 months. No public speakers appeared to oppose the measure at the meeting.
The commission voted to adopt the ordinance as amended; roll call recorded a 5-0 vote. The ordinance includes a sunset clause tied to the pilot term and directs staff to track complaints and impacts during the trial.
Why it matters: The pilot gives residents a limited, regulated path to keep hens for personal egg production while the city tracks nuisance complaints and public-health issues. Commissioners emphasized conditions on coop location, noise and sanitation and reserved the right to revisit the policy after the pilot period.
Ending: Staff will publish the ordinance language and compliance requirements; inspectors will monitor complaints and report back to the commission before the pilot's sunset date.
