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

The county treats backyard chickens the same as other barnyard animals under its zoning code rather than singling out poultry for its own rule. Sec. a permits raising pigs, goats, sheep, cows, poultry and similar barnyard animals as an accessory use in the RE-2A district (Residential Estate), provided the animals are not raised for commercial purposes, meaning no on-site sale of eggs, meat or livestock as a business. Sec. D then draws the district map for the whole county: with the exception of horses, which have their own rule under Sec.

E, barnyard animals may be kept only in the AG, AR, A-1A, A-1 and A-2 agricultural districts as part of an approved agricultural use, or in the RE-2A district under the Sec. 5 accessory-use allowance. Outside those six districts, standard single-family residential zoning (the Category 'A,' 'B' and 'C' districts covered by Sec. B) treats chickens and other barnyard animals as prohibited, since only 'household pets' such as dogs, cats and birds commonly kept near a residence are allowed there, capped at four to ten animals depending on lot size.

A resident who wants backyard chickens on a standard suburban lot outside AG, AR, A-1A, A-1, A-2 or RE-2A zoning has no path to keep them under current zoning without a rezoning or variance.