Backyard Chickens in Tallahassee, Florida

Can you keep chickens in Tallahassee?

Ready to start your backyard flock in Florida's capital city? Tallahassee allows hens for personal, non-commercial use as long as they're securely penned at least 20 feet from your neighbor's house — and yes, you can even keep one rooster for flock sustainability. Here's everything Peggy's Happy Chickens found in the official city code to help you keep your flock happy, legal, and safe from North Florida's many hungry predators.

Yes – with conditions

Yes. Tallahassee's Code of Ordinances generally prohibits keeping livestock or fowl within the city (§ 4-5(a)), but the Code carves out a specific exception for backyard hens. Under § 4-5(d)(2), female chickens (hens) may be kept for non-commercial purposes as long as they are confined in a securely enclosed yard or pen at all times and are kept no closer than 20 feet to neighboring dwellings. A single rooster may also be kept along with the hens for flock sustainability purposes. Separately, hens (and even a rooster) may be kept without these restrictions on tracts of five or more contiguous acres (§ 4-5(d)(3)). No numeric cap on the number of hens is stated in the ordinance — the limiting factor is the enclosure/20-foot setback rule, not a hen count.

Keep in mind that even a compliant rooster can still be cited and removed if its crowing triggers the city's separate animal nuisance ordinance (§ 4-10), which prohibits animals that 'crow or cackle in an excessive, continuous or untimely fashion.'

Read the ordinance ↗

The rules at a glance

Hens in city limits: Allowed
How many hens: No Set Limit
Roosters: conditional
Permit required: No
Permit cost: Not specified
Setback from property line: 20 ft.

Peggy knows Tallahassee

The rules, straight from the municipal code.

Confinement (§ 4-5(d)(2)): Hens must be confined in a securely enclosed yard or pen at all times.
Setback (§ 4-5(d)(2)): The enclosure/pen must be kept no closer than 20 feet to neighboring dwellings.
Roosters: One rooster is allowed 'in conjunction with said hens for the purpose of flock sustainability,' but may still be removed if it becomes a noise nuisance under § 4-10.
Non-commercial use only: The hen exception applies only to non-commercial keeping.
Large-lot exception (§ 4-5(d)(3)): On tracts of 5 or more contiguous acres within city limits, horses or fowl (including roosters without the single-bird limit) may be kept without the yard/setback restriction.
Grandfather clause (§ 4-5(d)(4)): Livestock/fowl already permanently and lawfully residing in the city when the ordinance was adopted (2010) may continue to be kept.
No permit required for the basic hen-keeping exception, though the City Commission may issue special exhibition/display permits for livestock or fowl under § 4-5(b).
General animal care rules apply: owners must provide adequate food, water, shelter and sanitary conditions, and avoid creating a public nuisance (odor, pests, excessive noise) under §§ 4-7 and 4-10.

Where this comes from

Keeping a flock happy in Tallahassee

🌡️ Climate

USDA Hardiness Zone 8b/9a (Humid Subtropical)

Tallahassee has hot, humid summers and mild, wet winters typical of the Florida Panhandle. High humidity and heat mean coops need excellent ventilation and shade, while occasional winter cold snaps rarely require more than basic draft protection. Heavy seasonal rain and the risk of tropical storms/hurricanes make elevated, well-drained coop siting and secure, wind-resistant construction important.

🦝 Who's after your hens

RaccoonHawkFoxBobcatSnakeOpossum

North Florida backyard flocks face a wide range of predators. University of Florida extension notes that Florida bobcats are powerful night hunters that leave claw marks on carcasses, and that raccoons are common predators of backyard poultry that often hunt in teams, with one individual scaring chickens while the other grabs the prey. Barred owls and hawks pose daytime and nighttime aerial threats, while snakes, opossums, and foxes are also common in the region. Secure, wire-mesh (hardware cloth) enclosures with buried aprons, raccoon-proof latches, and elevated coop floors are strongly recommended.

🐔 Breeds that do well here

Easter Egger, Rhode Island Red, Australorp, Barred Plymouth Rock, Leghorn, Buff Orpington (heat-tolerant, hardy breeds well-suited to North Florida's humidity)

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

Questions people ask about Tallahassee

▸Are backyard chickens legal in Tallahassee?

Yes. Although Tallahassee's code technically prohibits livestock or fowl within the city generally, it specifically exempts the keeping of hens for non-commercial purposes if they are securely enclosed and kept at least 20 feet from neighboring dwellings (§ 4-5(d)(2)).

▸How many hens can I keep in Tallahassee?

The ordinance does not set a numeric limit on the number of hens. The main restrictions are that hens must be securely confined and kept at least 20 feet from any neighboring dwelling.

▸Can I keep a rooster in Tallahassee?

Yes, one rooster is allowed along with your hens for flock sustainability purposes. However, if the rooster's crowing becomes a noise nuisance under the city's separate animal nuisance ordinance, it can still be cited or ordered removed.

▸Do I need a permit to keep chickens in Tallahassee?

No permit is required for the standard hen-keeping exception under § 4-5(d)(2). The city commission can issue special permits for livestock/fowl kept for exhibition or display purposes, but that is a separate, discretionary process not required for ordinary backyard hens.

▸How close to my property line or neighbor's house can my coop be?

The ordinance requires that hens be kept no closer than 20 feet to neighboring dwellings — it does not set a separate distance requirement from property lines themselves.

City rules change, and this page is a summary rather than legal advice. Please confirm with Tallahassee or your HOA before you order – and call us on (559) 321-7271 if you'd like a hand. Last checked September 7, 2026.