Volusia County, FL Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Flock cap
- 5 hens; no roosters, ducks, geese
- Permit needed
- CUP required, only in R-1–R-4, R-6, MH-6
- Min lot size
- 1/4 acre
- Coop limits
- ≤8 ft tall, ≤150 sq ft
- Building permit trigger
- Coops over 120 sq ft
- Manure bin setback
- 20+ ft from property lines
- Commercial use
- Selling eggs/birds/manure prohibited
Summary
Backyard chickens need a conditional use permit in Volusia County and are capped at five hens: no roosters, ducks, geese or other fowl allowed. Section 72-293(5) also sets a quarter-acre minimum lot size, an eight-foot coop height cap, and a ban on selling eggs, birds or manure.
(5)Backyard chickens.a.Backyard chickens may be permitted in the R-1 through R-4, R-6, or MH-6 zoning classifications, by conditional use permit, pursuant to subsection 72-341(j)...1.The number of chickens shall be limited to no more than five, and no ducks, geese, pigeons, turkeys, peafowl, roosters, or any other poultry or fowl are allowed...4.The minimum lot size shall be one-quarter of an acre...6.The coop may not be taller than eight feet, measured from the natural grade...Coops may not exceed a maximum of 150 square feet.7.If the coop structure exceeds 120 square feet in size, a building permit is required under the Florida Building Code...9.Chickens shall be kept for personal use only. Selling chickens, eggs, or chicken manure, or the breeding of chickens for commercial purposes is prohibited.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 108 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 72-293(5)a limits backyard chickens to the R-1 through R-4, R-6 and MH-6 zoning classifications, and only under a conditional use permit issued per Sec. 72-341(j). The permit caps the flock at five hens, roosters, ducks, geese, pigeons, turkeys, peafowl and 'any other poultry or fowl' are all barred, and requires a minimum lot size of one-quarter acre. Chickens must live in a fully enclosed, predator-secured coop with a roof, limited to one coop per parcel, no taller than eight feet from natural grade and no larger than 150 square feet; if the coop tops 120 square feet, a Florida Building Code permit is required.
The coop must sit between the rear lot line and the rear-most point of the house, screened from view of the street and neighboring properties, and manure has to go into a fly-tight bin kept at least 20 feet from every property line, with no perceptible odor. Chickens are for personal use only, subsection (9) makes selling chickens, eggs, or manure, or breeding for commercial purposes, unlawful. Deceased birds must be disposed of within 24 hours under Florida law, and a public health emergency such as avian flu can trigger mandatory corrective action.
Applicants must also complete a University of Florida IFAS class on chicken care before permit approval, and the application must include a site plan showing the coop's distance from every property line.
Violations & Fines
Keeping chickens without the required conditional use permit, exceeding the five-hen cap, or keeping banned fowl like roosters or ducks is enforced as an Article II zoning violation under Sec. 72-341(f). A written correction notice comes first, and a conviction is punished under F.S. § 125.69 with a fine up to $500 and/or 60 days in jail, with every day of noncompliance a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep chickens in unincorporated Volusia County?
Can I have a rooster?
How big can my chicken coop be?
Can I sell eggs from my backyard flock?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Volusia County
How Volusia County compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Volusia County to another location·View the Florida animal ordinances overview
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