Ocala, FL Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)

Beyond the six-bird cap, Sec. 122-1217 spells out housing and hygiene conditions: the coop must be covered, properly ventilated, kept clean, predator-resistant and easy to access, sized at a minimum of two square feet per chicken, and during daylight hours the birds need access to both the coop and a securely fenced outdoor run to keep out predators. The coop and run together must sit at least three feet from the adjoining property line, stay free of insects and rodents, and produce no odor, noise or other nuisance perceptible at the property boundary.

Owners composting chicken manure must use an enclosed bin kept at least 15 feet from every property line. The permit is strictly for personal use: selling chickens, eggs, feathers or manure, breeding chickens, or slaughtering them on the property are all prohibited outright. Any other livestock permitted in the R-1, R-1A or R-1AA districts still has to comply separately with Sec. 122-1221. Growth Management issues the permit, and code enforcement inspects permitted properties at least twice a year to confirm the coop, run and composting setup still meet every condition; if an inspection turns up a violation, the building official has sole discretion to revoke the permit outright and order the chickens removed within ten days.