Fort Lauderdale, FL Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential keeping code
- Fort Lauderdale Code Sec. 6-5
- Excluded from pet exception
- Chickens, roosters, geese
- Rooster setback
- 100 yards from any dwelling (Sec. 6-8)
- Nonresidential setback
- 75 feet from dwelling (Sec. 6-6)
Summary
Fort Lauderdale bars keeping any animal in residential districts except common household pets, and the pet exception expressly excludes chickens, roosters and geese. Roosters are barred within 100 yards of any dwelling and livestock is effectively prohibited outside the narrow nonresidential rules.
It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, maintain or permit to be kept or maintained or permit on the premises any animal in any residential district of the city; provided, however, that this prohibition shall not apply to animals capable of being kept as pets within a home such as those species of animals that generally are kept as pets and live in or about the habitation of humans, including but not limited to dogs, cats, birds (excluding chickens, roosters and geese), rabbits, turtles and tropical fish.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 67 Update 1 | Unified Land Development Code: Supplement 58 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 6-5 makes it unlawful to keep any animal in a residential district except animals capable of being kept as pets within a home, a list that expressly excludes chickens, roosters and geese. Sec. 6-6 bars keeping any animal within 75 feet of an inhabited dwelling in nonresidential districts, with the same pet exclusion of chickens, roosters and geese. Sec. 6-8 separately forbids keeping any rooster closer than 100 yards from any inhabited dwelling other than the keeper's own. The cumulative effect is that backyard chickens, roosters, geese and traditional livestock are not permitted on ordinary residential lots in the city.
Violations & Fines
Code-enforcement citation for unlawful keeping of animals under Sec. 6-5, 6-6 or 6-8; abatement of the prohibited fowl or livestock.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep backyard chickens in Fort Lauderdale?
Are roosters allowed anywhere in the city?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Lauderdale
How Fort Lauderdale compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Fort Lauderdale to another location·View the Florida animal ordinances overview
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