Can I keep chickens in Fort Lauderdale, FL?
No — Fort Lauderdale does not allow backyard chickens in residential zones. (Fort Lauderdale Code of Ordinances, Ch. 6 (Animals), Art. I, Sec. 6-5 (Animals prohibited in certain areas; exceptions); see also Sec. 6-6 for nonresidential districts, verified July 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | No |
|---|---|
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Coop rules | Chickens prohibited in residential districts. Roosters prohibited except 100 yards from inhabited dwellings (but general chicken ban applies). |
| Code section | Fort Lauderdale Code of Ordinances, Ch. 6 (Animals), Art. I, Sec. 6-5 (Animals prohibited in certain areas; exceptions); see also Sec. 6-6 for nonresidential districts |
Keeping animals in any residential district is unlawful except for animals capable of being kept as pets within a home, and chickens, roosters and geese are expressly excluded from that pet exception. Backyard hens are therefore prohibited in residential districts. A separate rule bars keeping animals within 75 feet of an inhabited dwelling in nonresidential districts.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in Fort Lauderdale?
No — chickens are not allowed in Fort Lauderdale (Fort Lauderdale Code of Ordinances, Ch. 6 (Animals), Art. I, Sec. 6-5 (Animals prohibited in certain areas; exceptions); see also Sec. 6-6 for nonresidential districts).
Are roosters allowed in Fort Lauderdale?
No — roosters are prohibited in Fort Lauderdale.
What law covers backyard chickens in Fort Lauderdale?
Fort Lauderdale Code of Ordinances, Ch. 6 (Animals), Art. I, Sec. 6-5 (Animals prohibited in certain areas; exceptions); see also Sec. 6-6 for nonresidential districts. Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
Fort Lauderdale Code of Ordinances, Ch. 6 (Animals), Art. I, Sec. 6-5 (Animals prohibited in certain areas; exceptions); see also Sec. 6-6 for nonresidential districts — read the official code
“It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, maintain or permit to be kept or maintained or permit on the premises any animal in any residential district of the city” source
“It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, maintain or permit to be kept or maintained or permit on the premises any animal in any residential district of the city; provided, however, that this prohibition shall not apply to animals capable of being kept as pets within a home such as those species of animals that generally are kept as pets and live in or about the habitation of humans, including but not limited to dogs, cats, birds (excluding chickens, roosters and geese), rabbits, turtles and tropical fish.” source
“It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep or maintain or permit to be kept or maintained any animal within seventy-five (75) feet by air-line measurement of any inhabited residence or dwelling or place used for human habitation, in any nonresidential district of the city.” source
Last verified July 26, 2026. Always confirm with your municipality — HOA rules can be stricter than city code. How we verify →
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