Citrus County, FL Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

Citrus County's Land Development Code, Chapter 3 - Use Standards, Sec. 3730 (ANIMALS), splits backyard birds into two tracks. Under subsection (A), raising livestock or poultry as a land use is permitted on parcels of at least one acre in the Rural Residential District, and at least two acres in the Low Intensity Coastal and Lakes, Coastal and Lakes Residential, Central Ridge Residential, Low Density Residential, and Port Districts, each developed with a single-family residence. 0 each of goats, sheep and swine per acre, calculated cumulatively; exceeding the schedule requires a Conditional Use approval from the county.

Barns, pens or sties must sit at least 50 feet from any property line, and the animal area must be fully fenced. Banded homing/racing pigeons are separately allowed at up to 35 birds per 9,600 square feet. Subsection (B) covers chickens kept simply as pets: up to four hens (hens only, no roosters), or alternatively four ducks, six rabbits, or twelve pigeons/quail, are allowed outside the residence in every residential district regardless of lot size, provided any coop sits at least 10 feet from the property line.

Roosters, gamecocks, turkeys, geese, peacocks, guinea fowl, ratites, and larger livestock cannot be kept under the pet allowance and require the acreage-based path instead. Selling or breeding animals kept under either provision is expressly prohibited. This chapter governs unincorporated Citrus County only; it does not apply inside the incorporated cities of Crystal River or Inverness, which enforce their own municipal codes.