CASSELBERRY, Fla. – Casselberry commissioners are set to consider a one-year pilot program Monday that would allow some residents to legally keep backyard chickens within city limits.
Resolution 26-3589 is scheduled for consideration during the City Commission meeting beginning at 5:30 p.m. The city manager and community development director are recommending approval.
The proposal follows a roughly two-month push led by Casselberry resident Lindsay Feist, who said she has kept four hens in her backyard for about three years.
Feist said the chickens provide her family with eggs, pest control, education and companionship.
“The benefits of backyard hens are immeasurable, right?” Feist said. “Education for my kids. Sustainable organic food for our family. Companionship.”
The issue reached City Hall in June after Feist said a code compliance employee noticed her chicken coop while responding to an unrelated matter along a nearby service road.
Feist said she was cited and given 10 days to remove the chickens.
“My family’s owned this house since 1984,” Feist said. “So I said, I don’t want to have to choose between keeping my chickens and selling my house and moving somewhere where I’m allowed to have them.”
Backyard hens are currently prohibited under Casselberry’s city code.
After Feist raised the issue, commissioners agreed to temporarily hold off on enforcement and directed city staff to research backyard chicken programs in other Florida communities.
Staff presented its findings June 22, examining potential benefits, challenges, enforcement options, and effects on surrounding properties. Commissioners then directed staff to prepare a resolution establishing a one-year pilot program.
Under the proposed framework, the program would be limited to 100 free permits and allow participating households to keep up to six hens. Roosters would not be allowed.
Participants would also be required to complete a chicken-keeping course and provide a secure coop that meets the city’s size and safety requirements.
Feist said the limited program would allow the city to gather information and address any problems before considering permanent regulations.
“They can gather some data, make sure that things are — they work out all the kinks before ideally moving toward permanently adopting an ordinance,” Feist said.
City documents show the pilot program is not expected to affect the city’s currently approved budget.
Feist said she approached commissioners with potential regulations instead of only asking them to reverse the code enforcement action.
“A lot of times people come to the city with a problem, and I tried to come to the city with a solution,” Feist said.
If commissioners approve the resolution, city leaders would evaluate the program after one year and decide whether to adopt a permanent ordinance allowing backyard chickens in Casselberry.