Residential Backyard Chicken Permit

In an effort to integrate sustainability and resilience within our communities, empower our residents to lead healthier lifestyles, and invest in the education of our children while strengthening our local food systems, Orange County adopted Ordinance 2021-34 allowing chickens to be kept on properties zoned for and developed with detached single-family residences.

The Residential Backyard Chicken ordinance only applies to single-family residential zoned and developed properties. The raising and keeping of poultry is permitted separately on agriculturally zoned properties subject to the regulations in Section 38-79(36) of the Orange County Code.

Process

Please follow the steps below for the permit submittal and issuance process.

  1. Check the Zoning of your property.

Street address only info image e.g. 201 S Rosalind Ave

Residential backyard chicken permits may only be issued to properties with the following Zoning designations:
R-1AAAA, R-1AAA, R-1AA, R-1A, R-1 R-2, R-3, R-CE-C, RT-1, RT-2, R-L-D, NC, NAC, or NR.

  1. Review the guidelines below.
  2. Submit permit online through Orange County Fast Track. You must create an account in order to submit a permit online.
  3. Upon issuance of the permit you will receive an email with the copy of the permit and instructions for property posting. A sign indicating permit issuance, will be furnished by the Zoning Division and must be posted property for a period of at least seven (7) days after permit issuance in a conspicuous and easily visible location that is not in the right-of-way.

GUIDELINES

The following guidelines are a summary of Sec. 38-79(37) of the Orange County Code.

  • The County will issue no more than 130 permits (on a first-come, first-serve basis).
  • A residential backyard chicken permit may only be issued to the property owner and is not transferrable.
  • Chickens are only permitted to be raised or kept on a property with an owner-occupied single-family detached residence or owner-occupied mobile home.
  • In order to apply for a residential backyard chicken permit you must first complete the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension Orange County Back Yard Chicken Training Class. https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/orange/local-food-systems/backyard-chickens/
  • A maximum of four (4) chickens (hens only) are permitted. Roosters, ducks, geese, quail, turkeys, peafowl, pigeons or other poultry are not allowed.
Rear 10'
Side 15'
Side Street (when on a corner lot) 15'
Wetlands, upland buffers, berms, swales, conservation areas, and platted development right tracts 10'
Normal High Water Elevation (NHWE) of any water body 50'

SUBMITTAL
REQUIREMENTS
  1. Submissions must include a PDF of each of the following:
    • A signed UF/IFAS Extension Orange County Backyard Chicken Training Class certificate of completion;
    • Drawings of the proposed chicken coop and pen area showing details including area, height, materials and tie downs (see examples here of tie downs); and
    • A completed, legible dimensioned site plan or a dimensioned survey with the following information:
      1. All existing structures;
      2. Proposed location of chicken coop and pen area;
      3. Setbacks from proposed coop and pen area to all property lines;
      4. Dimensions and height of chicken coop
      5. Dimensions and height of pen area; and
      6. Required fencing or vegetative screening (including height).
  2. Applications that are incomplete, need to be revised or are denied will be sent an email outlining the deficiencies or denial. The submitted application may be amended/corrected in order to meet the code requirements.
  3. Application fee of $57.00.

*Please note that the fee is for the review of this request and is non-refundable, and does not guarantee you issuance of a backyard chicken keeping permit.