Miami-Dade County, FL Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- RU-1 zoning
- Poultry, fowl, livestock flatly banned
- AU (Agricultural) zoning
- Poultry raising allowed, with setbacks
- AU poultry building setback
- 500 ft from EU/RU boundary
- Commercial threshold (AU)
- 100+ birds is commercial poultry
- Scope
- Unincorporated Miami-Dade (UMSA) only
Summary
In unincorporated Miami-Dade's RU-1 single-family zoning district, the county's most common suburban zoning, keeping poultry, fowl, bee hives, horses, cattle, or goats is flatly prohibited; only customary household pets are allowed on the property.
The following uses shall be prohibited in any RU-1 District, Single-family Residential District: (1) Bee hives or the breeding or raising of any insects, reptiles or animals other than customary pets. (2) The keeping, breeding, or maintaining of horses, cattle or goats. (3) The raising of poultry or fowl.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 135).
Full Breakdown
Miami-Dade County Code § 33-200 bars any RU-1 Single-Family Residential District property from keeping bee hives, breeding or raising insects, reptiles, or animals other than customary pets, keeping/breeding/maintaining horses, cattle, or goats, or raising poultry or fowl. This zoning applies only in the unincorporated area (UMSA); Chapter 33 divides only unincorporated territory into districts, per § 33-2. Want chickens or livestock legally? Rezone to AU (Agricultural): § 33-279(17) permits poultry raising there, with buildings housing poultry set back 500 feet from any EU or RU district boundary and 50 feet from a neighbor's residence, and no certificate of use required below the 100-bird commercial-poultry threshold. Miami-Dade's 34 incorporated cities set their own separate rules.
Violations & Fines
Code Enforcement (Ch. 8CC) can cite RU-1 property owners for keeping prohibited poultry, fowl, bee hives, or livestock; unresolved citations escalate to civil penalties and liens under the county's code enforcement schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep chickens in my Miami-Dade backyard?
Does this rule apply inside the City of Miami or Miami Beach?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Miami-Dade County
How Miami-Dade County compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Miami-Dade County to another location·View the Florida animal ordinances overview
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