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‘Small flocks, hens only’: commissioners direct staff to draft backyard-chicken rules
Summary
Residents urged the county to permit small backyard flocks to address food insecurity and youth agricultural programs. Planning staff recommended a permit-and-affidavit model (2–6 hens, no roosters, owner-occupied single-family lots) and commissioners asked staff to return with a draft ordinance by early October.
Public comments and a staff review led commissioners to ask county planners to produce a formal draft ordinance allowing limited backyard chickens on owner-occupied single-family lots.
Katie McFarland, who introduced the proposal, urged the board to permit small backyard flocks and argued they can help families and school agricultural programs: "Please allow backyard flocks in Okeechobee County," she said, adding that 4–6 hens on small urban lots can provide protein and educational opportunities.
Planning staff reviewed peer county approaches and recommended a model similar to St. Lucie County — an application process, an affidavit acknowledging rules, containment requirements, setbacks and a limit on hens (the range staff saw was "about 2 to 4 6, 2, 2 to 6, chickens, and also all of them hung up with no roosters"). Commissioners discussed minimum lot sizes (0.20–0.25 acre was considered), setbacks for coops, permitting fees (several members asked for a low fee; $10 was mentioned as reasonable), and inspection notice procedures. Staff committed to return with a draft ordinance for the first October meeting for further review.
Why it matters: The proposed change affects many residential neighborhoods and balances food-security and youth-program benefits against neighbor impacts such as noise, odor and setbacks. Commissioners emphasized owner-occupied limits and permit requirements to reduce conflicts.
