Backyard Chickens in Fort Pierce, Florida

Q: How many hens can I keep in Fort Pierce?

Up to six hens per property, as long as they are kept fully enclosed within the backyard area.

Can you keep chickens in Fort Pierce?

Fort Pierce made headlines when its City Commission narrowly approved a backyard-chicken ordinance, giving Treasure Coast residents the green light to keep hens at home. With a firm hen cap, a rooster ban, and specific coop-size and setback rules, the city aims to let residents enjoy fresh eggs while keeping fowl safely contained in their own yards.

Yes – with conditions

Yes. The City of Fort Pierce City Commission voted 3-2 in 2018 to legalize backyard hens, amending Chapter 6 (Animals & Fowl) of the City Code of Ordinances. Under the ordinance, residents may keep up to six hens per property, but roosters remain prohibited city-wide.

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: 6
Roosters: No
Permit required: Not specified
Setback from property line: 25 ft.

Peggy knows Fort Pierce

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Hens must be kept fully enclosed in the backyard portion of the property at all times — free-roaming is not permitted. The coop, run, or henhouse must provide at least 4 square feet per chicken, cannot exceed 80 square feet total, and may be no taller than 6 feet. The structure must sit at least 10 feet from side/rear property lines and at least 25 feet from any neighboring house. Roosters are banned city-wide as part of the city's effort to curb free-roaming fowl complaints.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Fort Pierce

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 10a / Humid Subtropical

Fort Pierce sits on Florida's Treasure Coast with a warm, humid subtropical climate: mild winters, long hot/humid summers, and a June–November hurricane/heavy-rain season. Coops should prioritize shade, cross-ventilation, and elevated, well-drained flooring to handle heat stress and tropical downpours.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkFoxSnakeOpossumBobcat

Florida's warm climate supports year-round predator activity. Raccoons and opossums are the most persistent nighttime threats to coops, while hawks pose a daytime risk to free-ranging hens. Snakes are drawn to feed stores and can raid nests for eggs, and foxes or bobcats may appear near the more wooded, canal-adjacent edges of Fort Pierce.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Easter Egger, Leghorn, Rhode Island Red, Australorp, Naked Neck (Turken), Sussex

Our package comes with two Rhode Island Reds – hardy in heat and cold, and friendly with kids.

Questions people ask about Fort Pierce

▸How many hens can I keep in Fort Pierce?

Up to six hens per property, as long as they are kept fully enclosed within the backyard area.

▸Are roosters allowed in Fort Pierce?

No. The 2018 ordinance specifically prohibits roosters within city limits, partly to address the city's ongoing problem with free-roaming, crowing fowl.

▸How big can my coop be and where can I put it?

The coop, run, or henhouse must provide at least 4 square feet per chicken, cannot exceed 80 square feet, and must be no taller than 6 feet. It must be set back at least 10 feet from property lines and at least 25 feet from any neighboring house.

▸Can my chickens free-range in my yard?

No — the ordinance requires hens to be kept fully enclosed in the backyard portion of the property rather than allowed to roam freely.

▸Do I need a permit to keep hens in Fort Pierce?

The retrieved coverage of the city's 2018 ordinance did not specify a separate permit or fee requirement for city residents; contact Fort Pierce Code Compliance to confirm current application procedures before starting a flock.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Fort Pierce or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked September 9, 2026.