St. Lucie County, FL Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Fla. Stat. § 823.14(6), Right to Farm Act
- Protected land
- parcels classified agricultural under F.S. 193.461
- County exemption
- AG-1, AG-2.5, AG-5, AR-1, PUD zoning (§ 6-19)
- Local cross-reference
- County Code § 6-19 nuisance definition
- Wellfield exception
- county may regulate inside mapped wellfield areas
Summary
Florida's Right to Farm Act bars St. Lucie County from adopting any ordinance that restricts a bona fide farm operation, including keeping chickens, cattle or other livestock, on land classified agricultural once the operation follows state best-management practices. The county's own nuisance code recognizes this limit for AG-zoned and PUD parcels.
LIMITATION ON DUPLICATION OF GOVERNMENT REGULATION.—It is the intent of the Legislature to eliminate duplication of regulatory authority over farm operations as expressed in this subsection. Except as otherwise provided for in this section and s. 487.051(2), and notwithstanding any other provision of law, a local government may not adopt any ordinance, regulation, rule, or policy to prohibit, restrict, regulate, or otherwise limit an activity of a bona fide farm operation on land classified as agricultural land pursuant to s. 193.461, where such activity is regulated through implemented best management practices or interim measures developed by the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, or water management districts and adopted under chapter 120 as part of a statewide or regional program.
Full Breakdown
14, the Right to Farm Act, does more than shield farms from nuisance lawsuits: subsection (6), 'Limitation on Duplication of Government Regulation,' flatly bars St. 461, so long as the activity is already governed by best-management practices adopted by the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, or a water management district under Chapter 120. The only carve-out lets the county regulate an activity inside a mapped wellfield protection area if its own best-management practice doesn't already address wellfield protection. The county's own animal code tracks this limit directly. 5, AG-5 or AR-1 land with an agricultural classification, or land where livestock is a nonconforming use.
Violations & Fines
Because Section 823.14(6) limits the county's own regulatory power rather than creating a criminal offense, there is no county citation for lawfully keeping chickens or livestock on qualifying agricultural land. A property owner who believes the county has exceeded this limit can raise Section 823.14(6) as a defense to any code-enforcement action, and under subsection (9) can recover costs and fees if a nuisance suit against an existing farm operation fails.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can St. Lucie County ban backyard chickens on agricultural land?
Does the county's noise-nuisance rule apply to crowing roosters?
What if my farm predates a nearby subdivision?
Is there any topic the county can still regulate on farmland?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Lucie County
How St. Lucie County compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Florida rules heatmap·Compare St. Lucie County to another location·View the Florida animal ordinances overview
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