Fort Myers, FL Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Hen limit
- 4 hens max, 1 per 800 sq ft
- Roosters
- Prohibited outright, no exceptions
- General ban
- 300 ft of any dwelling without permit
- Eligibility
- Single-family lot with Lee County homestead exemption
- Coop rules
- 20 ft from dwelling, rear half of lot
Summary
Fort Myers requires a permit to keep up to four backyard hens on single-family homestead-exempt lots; roosters, hogs, and other fowl are banned within 300 feet of any dwelling citywide.
Except as permitted in subsection (b) below, the keeping of any live hog, pig, chicken, goose, turkey, guinea fowl, duck, peafowl or domestic or domesticated fowl within 300 feet of any dwelling in the city is hereby prohibited and declared a nuisance injurious to the health and welfare. ... one backyard hen per 800 square feet of total lot area, with a maximum of four backyard hens on any lot, provided that: (1) No person shall keep any rooster;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 60).
Full Breakdown
Fort Myers Code of Ordinances § 54-5 bans keeping any hog, pig, chicken, goose, turkey, guinea fowl, duck, peafowl, or other domestic fowl within 300 feet of a dwelling, citywide. The only exception is a permit allowing one backyard hen per 800 square feet of lot area, capped at four hens, on a single-family lot whose owner holds a current Lee County homestead exemption; duplexes and multifamily properties don't qualify. Roosters are banned outright. Permitted hens need a predator-resistant coop (2-25 sq. ft. per hen) at least 20 feet from any dwelling in the rear half of the lot, plus a fenced outdoor run, and permit holders must consent to code-enforcement inspections.
Violations & Fines
Keeping chickens, hogs, or other fowl within 300 feet of a dwelling without a permit, keeping a rooster, or exceeding four hens is a code violation; the section also allows nuisance abatement and permit revocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep chickens in Fort Myers?
How close can a hen house be to a dwelling?
Can I keep chickens on a duplex or rental property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Myers
How Fort Myers compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Fort Myers to another location·View the Florida animal ordinances overview
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Chickens & Livestock in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Lee County handle chickens & livestock.