Jacksonville, FL Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Bird limit
- Up to 5 hens per lot
- Roosters/other fowl
- Banned under this program
- Before applying
- Complete extension office seminar
- Coop location
- Rear yard, screened from view
- Commercial use
- No selling or slaughtering allowed
Summary
Jacksonville allows up to five hens per single-family lot with a Planning and Development Department permit, mandatory extension office seminar, rear-yard coop, and a strict ban on roosters and other fowl.
(a) Chickens, also referred to herein as "Backyard hens," are allowed in conjunction with a single family dwelling ... by permit and subject to the performance standards and development criteria set forth herein. (c) Up to five chickens may be permitted on each residential lot. ... (9) No male chickens/roosters, ducks, geese, turkeys, peafowl, pheasants, quail or any other poultry or fowl may be kept under this program.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 6 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Jacksonville's Ordinance Code Section 656.422 lets single-family homeowners keep up to five female chickens ("backyard hens") per lot, with five more allowed for each additional 21,780 square feet over one acre. A permit from the Planning and Development Department is required before placing any birds, and applicants must first complete a chicken-keeping seminar through the Duval County Agricultural Extension Office and pay a one-time non-refundable fee. Chickens must stay in a screened, rear-yard coop meeting size and setback rules, may not be slaughtered on-site or sold, and no roosters, ducks, geese, turkeys, peafowl, pheasants or quail are allowed. Chickens are barred from duplexes, triplexes, multifamily lots, and mobile-home or RV parks.
Violations & Fines
Keeping chickens without the permit, exceeding the five-bird limit, keeping roosters or other fowl, or an unscreened/misplaced coop is a code violation enforceable by Municipal Code Compliance; repeat or nuisance complaints can trigger permit revocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep roosters in Jacksonville?
Do I need a permit to keep backyard chickens in Jacksonville?
How many chickens can I keep?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jacksonville
How Jacksonville compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Jacksonville to another location·View the Florida animal ordinances overview
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