Backyard chickens in Fort Myers, Florida
Everything you need to know before you start a backyard flock in Fort Myers – the rules, the climate and the neighbors with teeth.
Can you keep chickens in Fort Myers?
Thinking about keeping backyard hens in Fort Myers? The City allows a small, permitted flock on homesteaded single-family lots — here's exactly what Section 54-5 of the Code of Ordinances requires before you build that coop.
Yes – with conditions
Yes, backyard hens are allowed in the City of Fort Myers, but only under a specific permitted program with significant restrictions. Under Ordinance No. 3761, adopted December 7, 2015, and codified at Section 54-5 of the City's Code of Ordinances, owners of homesteaded, single-family property may raise one hen per 800 square feet of total lot area, up to a maximum of four hens per lot. Roosters are strictly prohibited city-wide. Chicken-keeping is restricted to owner-occupied single-family homes with a current Lee County Homestead Exemption — duplexes and multi-family properties are not eligible.
The rules at a glance
- Hens in city limits
- Allowed
- How many hens
- 4
- Roosters
- No
- Permit required
- Yes
- Permit cost
- Not specified
- Setback from property line
- 20 ft.
Peggy knows Fort Myers
The rules, straight from the municipal code.
Fort Myers' Backyard Hen Program (Sec. 54-5) imposes detailed coop and management standards:
- The hen house (coop) must be covered, predator-resistant, and well-ventilated.
- Minimum 4 square feet per hen, and the coop may not exceed 25 square feet total, regardless of flock size.
- The hen house must be located at least 20 feet from any dwelling and must also meet all standard zoning setback requirements for the district.
- The coop must be located in the rear half of the property and may not be built onto any shared fence.
- Hens must have a fenced outdoor enclosure in addition to the coop, and must be confined to the coop or enclosure at all times (no free-ranging at large).
- Hens may not be kept inside the residential dwelling itself.
- On-site slaughter of hens is prohibited, and all eggs must be collected daily.
- Chicken feed must be stored securely.
- Only owner-occupied single-family homes with a current Lee County Homestead Exemption qualify; duplexes and multi-family properties are excluded.
- If the property is in an HOA, a signed letter from the association confirming hens are permitted is required as part of the application.
- There is no permit fee, but a permit application (with coop drawings and homestead proof) must be filed with the Community Development Department, and permit holders must consent to property inspections upon complaint.
Where this comes from
Keeping a flock happy in Fort Myers
🌡️ Climate
USDA Zone 10a / Humid Subtropical
Fort Myers sits in a hot, humid subtropical zone with mild, dry winters and long, wet, hurricane-prone summers. Heat-tolerant breeds and shaded, well-ventilated coops with excellent drainage are essential, and coops should be secured well ahead of hurricane season.
🦝 Who's after your hens
Raccoons are considered the top backyard chicken predator in Florida and are extremely common in Fort Myers neighborhoods. Hawks, snakes, opossums, and foxes are also frequent threats, so coops should use small-gauge hardware cloth, buried aprons, and secure, lockable doors.
🐔 Breeds that do well here
Rhode Island Red, Leghorn, Easter Egger, Australorp, Barred Plymouth Rock
Our package comes with two Rhode Island Reds – hardy in heat and cold, and friendly with kids.
Questions people ask about Fort Myers
▸How many hens can I keep in Fort Myers?
Up to four hens per lot, based on one hen per 800 square feet of total lot area, per Section 54-5 of the Code of Ordinances.
▸Are roosters allowed in Fort Myers?
No. The keeping of any rooster is expressly prohibited under the City's Backyard Hen Program.
▸Do I need a permit to keep hens in Fort Myers?
Yes, you must apply through the Community Development Department's Backyard Hen Program, though there is no fee for the permit.
▸Can renters or duplex residents keep hens?
No. Backyard hens are only permitted on single-family properties occupied by an owner with a current Florida Homestead Exemption from the Lee County Property Appraiser; duplexes and multi-family properties are excluded.
▸How far must the coop be from my house or my neighbor's?
The hen house must be at least 20 feet from any dwelling and must also meet all standard zoning setback requirements for the property's district, and it must be located in the rear half of the lot.
City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Fort Myers or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked September 9, 2026.
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