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

Article 22 of the Land Development Code creates the Open Rural (OR) district for sparsely developed land, the character of much of the rural west of the county around Callahan, Hilliard and Bryceville, and intends it to keep agricultural uses in place rather than allow intense residential or commercial development. 01(A) permits agricultural, horticultural and forestry uses along with the keeping and raising of farm animals and poultry as of right, subject to two locational standards: structures housing the animals cannot be closer than 100 feet to any property line, and goats, sheep or swine specifically cannot be kept within 200 feet of a residence under different ownership.

The same section separately addresses horses and ponies: noncommercial keeping is allowed, but no more than one horse or pony six months of age or older is permitted per half-acre of land, structures for them cannot go in a required front yard, and any horse structure must stay at least 35 feet from a neighboring property line. Because this standard is tied to the OR zoning district specifically, a landowner should confirm their parcel's zoning with the Planning and Economic Opportunity Department before relying on it; other zoning districts closer to Yulee or the Fernandina Beach city line carry their own use tables.