Can I keep chickens in St. Petersburg, FL?
Yes — St. Petersburg allows backyard chickens, up to 10 hens with no permit required. Coops must be at least 50 ft from neighboring lines/homes. (St. Petersburg Code of Ordinances, Ch. 4 (Animals), Sec. 4-31 (Keeping fowl in the City), verified July 2026)
The full rules
| Chickens allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Maximum hens | 10 |
| Permit required | No |
| Coop setback | 50 ft |
| Home slaughter | Not allowed |
| Coop rules | Fowl must be in a securely fenced area confined to the owner's premises. A coop is required, maximum 6 ft tall and no more than 130 sq ft, not in the front yard setback or beyond the front facade, and meeting side and rear setbacks. At least 4 sq ft inside the coop and 10 sq ft of open area per fowl. Coops kept clean and odor-free. |
| Code section | St. Petersburg Code of Ordinances, Ch. 4 (Animals), Sec. 4-31 (Keeping fowl in the City) |
Not more than 10 fowl are allowed on each property regardless of lot size. A coop may not be kept in a residential zoning district within 50 feet of any residence other than the owner's, unless the affected owner or occupant gives written consent. Roosters are not banned outright; crowing roosters and other noisy fowl are treated as nuisances under the city noise ordinance.
Common questions
Can I keep chickens in St. Petersburg?
Yes — chickens are allowed in St. Petersburg (St. Petersburg Code of Ordinances, Ch. 4 (Animals), Sec. 4-31 (Keeping fowl in the City)).
How many chickens can I keep in St. Petersburg?
Up to 10 hens.
Do I need a permit to keep chickens in St. Petersburg?
No — no permit is required for the base allowance in St. Petersburg.
How far must a chicken coop be from the property line in St. Petersburg?
50 feet minimum. Fowl must be in a securely fenced area confined to the owner's premises. A coop is required, maximum 6 ft tall and no more than 130 sq ft, not in the front yard setback or beyond the front facade, and meeting side and rear setbacks. At least 4 sq ft inside the coop and 10 sq ft of open area per fowl. Coops kept clean and odor-free.
Can I slaughter chickens at home in St. Petersburg?
No — slaughter is not permitted under St. Petersburg's code.
What law covers backyard chickens in St. Petersburg?
St. Petersburg Code of Ordinances, Ch. 4 (Animals), Sec. 4-31 (Keeping fowl in the City). Read the official text at the source linked on this page.
The actual law
St. Petersburg Code of Ordinances, Ch. 4 (Animals), Sec. 4-31 (Keeping fowl in the City) — read the official code
“Up to 10 fowl (chicken, turkey, duck, geese, and guinea fowl) can be kept at a residence in a securely fenced area” source
“Not more than ten fowl are allowed on each property, regardless of the size of the property.” source
“Noisy fowl. Crowing roosters or other noisy fowl which violate the noise ordinance (currently section 11-53(7)) are hereby declared to be nuisances.” source
“Prohibited locations. It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or maintain any coop in any residential zoning district within 50 feet of any residence except the residence of the owner, without the written consent of the owner or occupant of such residence.” source
Last verified July 26, 2026. Always confirm with your municipality — HOA rules can be stricter than city code. How we verify →
Reach people actively researching backyard chickens in their city. Founding sponsor slots now open.
Apply to become a sponsor →