Spring Hill is an unincorporated Community Development Plan (CDP) in Hernando County, so countywide Hernando County rules govern. Hernando County's Backyard Chicken ordinance (adopted 2019, expanded in 2026 to include ducks; codified at Hernando County Code of Ordinances Appendix A, Article V, Section 4, paragraph B) allows up to FOUR (4) hens (no roosters) on a residentially zoned property with a Permit to Keep Backyard Chickens issued by the Hernando County Development Department. Eligibility requires a minimum lot size of 10,000 sq ft, written consent of immediately adjacent and rear neighbors, a coop located in the rear yard at least 25 feet from the nearest neighbor's residence and at least 5 feet from all property lines, an enclosed (non-free-range) run, and the coop screened from view from adjoining properties and the street. The permit runs 5 years for approximately $100. Apply through the Hernando County Development Department at 352-754-4050 ext. 29150.
Spring Hill, FL is a large unincorporated CDP (Census-Designated Place) inside Hernando County - it has no city government, so all ordinances are Hernando County ordinances administered by the Hernando County Board of County Commissioners, Hernando County Development Department, and the Hernando County Sheriff's Office Animal Services. Spring Hill was originally platted by the Mackle Brothers and Deltona Corporation in the 1960s-70s as a planned residential community of mostly quarter-acre lots, but because the community is governed by Hernando County zoning (not a city code), poultry-keeping is allowed on conforming parcels. Hernando County first authorized backyard chickens on residentially zoned parcels in 2019, and a 2026 amendment expanded the program to also include ducks. The operative provision is Hernando County Code of Ordinances, Appendix A (Zoning), Article V, Section 4, paragraph B. Key requirements: (1) MAXIMUM 4 hens (no ducks, geese, turkeys, peafowl, or any other poultry or fowl beyond the authorized hens/ducks - roosters, drakes, and any male fowl are CATEGORICALLY PROHIBITED); (2) the parcel must be residentially zoned and have a MINIMUM lot size of 10,000 SQUARE FEET (most original Mackle-platted Spring Hill lots are right around the 10,000 sq ft threshold or slightly below, so corner lots, double lots, and re-platted parcels are more likely to qualify); (3) the applicant must obtain WRITTEN CONSENT from the IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT and REAR NEIGHBORS as part of the permit application; (4) the coop must be in the REAR YARD only, situated a MINIMUM 25 FEET from the nearest neighbor's residence and at LEAST 5 FEET from all property lines; (5) the coop must be screened from view from adjoining properties and the street; (6) chickens must be kept in an enclosed coop and run with predator-proof construction (roof, secured ventilation, secured openings and gates) - FREE-RANGE is NOT permitted; (7) if the coop structure exceeds 100 SQ FT (10x10 ft), a separate BUILDING PERMIT is required; (8) the permit term is 5 YEARS at approximately $100 fee; (9) for rental properties, a notarized letter from the property owner consenting to the permit is required; (10) the application requires a site plan showing coop location and setbacks plus photos or plans of the coop structure for site-inspection verification. Larger livestock (grazing animals) and free poultry/swine require Agricultural (AG) or Agricultural-Residential (AR) zoning, neither of which is typical inside Spring Hill proper; AR zoning permits 1 mature grazing animal (horse, cattle, sheep, goat) plus offspring under 1 year per acre. SPRING HILL HOA REALITY: many Spring Hill subdivisions are NOT governed by HOAs (a legacy of the original 1960s-70s Deltona/Mackle development model), which makes the County chicken permit genuinely available to a large share of residents - this is a meaningful difference from Florida cities like Palm Coast where HOA-governed lots are categorically excluded. However, deed restrictions on individual sections may still prohibit fowl. Permit applications and a copy of the rules are available at hernandocounty.us/media/yoklo01a/permit-to-keep-backyard-chickens-application-with-information.pdf. Contact: Hernando County Development Department 352-754-4050 ext. 29150.
Keeping chickens or other fowl on a Spring Hill residential property without an approved Hernando County Permit to Keep Backyard Chickens is a violation of Appendix A, Article V, Section 4 of the Hernando County Code. Keeping more than 4 hens, keeping a rooster or any male fowl, keeping ducks/geese/turkeys/peafowl outside the authorized hen/duck program, keeping fowl on a lot under 10,000 sq ft, violating the 25-foot coop setback from the nearest neighbor's residence, violating the 5-foot setback from property lines, locating the coop in the front yard, free-ranging the birds, or building a coop over 100 sq ft without a building permit, are all enforceable violations. Hernando County Code Enforcement issues a Notice of Violation with a compliance deadline (typically 14-30 days); continued non-compliance is referred to the Code Enforcement Special Magistrate for daily civil penalties under Chapter 162, Florida Statutes (up to $250/day for first violation, $500/day for repeat violations) and may include impoundment of the birds by Hernando County Animal Services. Hernando County Code Enforcement: 352-754-4056.
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