The City of Fort Myers allows backyard hens (no roosters) only on single-family properties with a Florida Homestead Exemption on file with the Lee County Property Appraiser, and only after the owner submits the Backyard Hen Application. The coop must be at least 20 feet from neighboring dwellings.
Fort Myers permits backyard hens (no roosters) on single-family residential lots through a Backyard Hen Application administered by the City. Eligibility is restricted to single-family parcels that hold a current Florida Homestead Exemption recorded with the Lee County Property Appraiser, which limits the program to owner-occupied homes. The application (Fort Myers Backyard Hen Application Form, available at fortmyers.gov/DocumentCenter/View/20391) requires the parcel address, owner certification, and a coop site sketch. The coop must be located at least 20 feet from the nearest neighboring residence and must be maintained in a sanitary condition. Roosters are prohibited because they constitute a noise nuisance under Chapter 14 of the Code of Ordinances. Fort Myers is urban; broader poultry-keeping in Lee County unincorporated areas requires agricultural zoning, and the Lee County Board of County Commissioners has previously declined to authorize backyard chickens countywide. Hens kept in violation of the program (no homestead, no application on file, rooster present, sanitation issues, or insufficient setback) are subject to abatement by City Code Enforcement under Chapter 14 Animals and the City's general nuisance authority.
Keeping hens without an approved Backyard Hen Application, keeping a rooster, failing to maintain the 20-foot coop setback, or operating on a non-homestead parcel is enforceable by Fort Myers Code Enforcement under Chapter 14. General municipal penalty applies (fines up to $500 per day and/or abatement). Sanitation complaints may also trigger Lee County Domestic Animal Services response.
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