Broward County Chapter 39 limits chickens, roosters, goats, and livestock to Agricultural (A-1, A-5) and Rural Estate (RE) zoning. Typical suburban residential zones in Broward do not allow poultry or livestock.
Broward County has very little agricultural land remaining — roughly 97 percent of the county is urbanized. Chapter 39 (Unified Land Development Code) limits chickens, roosters, goats, horses, and pigs to Agricultural (A-1, A-5) and Rural Estate (RE) zoning districts, primarily located in western Broward near the Everglades Conservation Area. Typical RS-1, RS-3, RS-5, and RM residential districts prohibit all livestock and poultry, including backyard hens. Roosters are prohibited countywide outside agricultural districts due to nuisance noise. Cities within Broward set their own rules; a small number (Davie, Southwest Ranches, Parkland rural pockets) allow limited poultry with minimum lot size requirements (often 2.5 acres). Florida state law does not preempt local chicken bans. Urban agriculture advocates have pushed for pilot programs, but no countywide backyard-chicken allowance exists as of 2026. HOAs often impose stricter bans regardless of zoning. Backyard beekeeping is the one exception, preempted from local bans by FL 586.10.
Zoning violation under Chapter 39: fines up to $250 first offense, up to $500 repeat. Animals may be impounded by Broward County Animal Care. Special magistrate fines up to $500 per day possible.
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See how Broward County's chickens & livestock rules stack up against other locations.
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