CASSELBERRY, Fla. – A Casselberry woman who says she was threatened with fines over her four backyard hens has convinced city leaders to take another look at the rules.
Lindsay Feist said she’s kept the hens in her backyard for years and believed she was following the law because Seminole County allows residents in unincorporated areas to keep up to four hens.
But last week, she said a city employee noticed her coop from an adjacent service road. Soon after, code enforcement posted a notice on her door giving her 10 days to remove the birds or face fines.
“My 15-year-old son brought the notice and he was very emotional and very nervous,” Feist said.
Feist took her concerns to the Casselberry City Commission, where she says supporters also signed petitions and spoke out in favor of allowing backyard hens.
Monday night, commissioners unanimously directed staff to draft an ordinance for consideration and agreed to withhold enforcement action while the issue is reviewed.
“This is a major step forward,” Feist wrote on social media following the meeting. “It means the City is officially moving forward with creating a framework that would allow residents to legally keep hens in Casselberry.”
News 6 reached out to Casselberry City Manager Randy Newman, who said backyard hens are currently prohibited under city code, but commissioners are expected to revisit the issue at a future meeting, possibly as soon as June 22.
Supporters note that unincorporated Seminole County already allows up to four hens, and nearby Longwood has its own backyard chicken program.
“We’re not asking for special treatment,” Feist said. “We would just like some clear regulations that everyone can understand and abide by.”
Feist’s next-door neighbor Miguel Valdes said the hens are quiet and that they appreciate the free eggs.
“Anything we can do as a society to help people become more self-sustaining, I think should be encouraged,” Valdes said.
Carl Brown, who lives nearby, said he had no idea anyone in the neighborhood even had chickens.
“I don’t have a problem with chickens,” Brown said. “We have kids and dogs in the neighborhood, and I feel like they’re more crazy than chickens.”
For now, Feist and her family are waiting to see whether city leaders ultimately decide to allow backyard hens within city limits.