Charlotte County's Backyard Chicken Ordinance (Ord. 2020-041, approved December 2021) permits backyard hens on residential single-family lots with a permit. Up to 4 hens are allowed on lots 10,000+ sq ft, and up to 6 hens on lots 20,000+ sq ft. A six-foot opaque fence/wall around the coop is required, plus completion of a UF/IFAS chicken-keeping course and a $35 application fee.
Port Charlotte is unincorporated Charlotte County, so the Charlotte County Backyard Chicken Ordinance (Ordinance No. 2020-041, adopted 4-1 in December 2021) applies. Hens are permitted as an accessory use on residential single-family properties, subject to a permit issued by Community Development. Maximums are tied to lot size — up to 4 hens on lots of at least 10,000 square feet, up to 6 hens on lots of at least 20,000 square feet. All chickens must be confined to the rear yard inside a coop, and the coop area must be enclosed by a fully opaque six-foot-high fence or wall on all sides. Roosters are prohibited. Each permit-holder must complete a required Chickens In Your Backyard online course offered by UF/IFAS Extension Charlotte County and pay a $35 application fee. The County reserves the right to inspect for compliance.
Keeping chickens without a permit, exceeding hen limits, keeping a rooster, or failing to install required fencing is a code violation. Charlotte County Code Enforcement issues notices, requires correction within a cure period, and can refer continuing violations to the Special Magistrate for fines under the County penalty schedule.
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