Can anyone make heads or tails of their City's Municode site?

[NewbieChicky]

I live in Coconut Creek, Florida. I have read everything I can find in the municode about fowl, farm animals, poultry, etc.

The language is vague to me:

Sec. 5-5. - Keeping agricultural and farm animals.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person owning any agricultural farm animal to permit, either willfully or through failure to exercise due care, the animal to stray, run or roam at large on the public streets or sidewalks of the city or upon any private property without the consent of the owner of that private property. It shall be the responsibility of the owner of any agricultural or farm animal which escapes from its enclosure to immediately recapture the animal as well as inform the police department that the animal is at large and might be creating a hazard. All agricultural and farm animals shall be kept and controlled in a manner so as not to create a nuisance through loud or annoying noise, vicious or mean behavior, or by obnoxious or annoying smell.

(b) No person shall keep more than four (4) agricultural animals per acre within any residential district where any such animals are permitted, unless authorized by the appropriate regulating state agency.


MY TAKE AWAY TO ARTICLE B is that I can have up to 4 per acre if I have the approval of the City and HOA? City will not return my calls nor my email inquiries.
I have seen a few older threads from other Coconut Creek residents having issues with Code Enforcement but no results posted :-( Being that everyone is trying their hand at being self sustainable, I was hoping this would be easier!

 

[Dona Worry]

Sounds to me you can keep 4 animals. There seems to be no distinction between horses or chickens, which is a little odd to me but whatever.

 

[pennyJo1960]

I live in Coconut Creek, Florida. I have read everything I can find in the municode about fowl, farm animals, poultry, etc.
The language is vague to me:
Sec. 5-5. - Keeping agricultural and farm animals.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person owning any agricultural farm animal to permit, either willfully or through failure to exercise due care, the animal to stray, run or roam at large on the public streets or sidewalks of the city or upon any private property without the consent of the owner of that private property. It shall be the responsibility of the owner of any agricultural or farm animal which escapes from its enclosure to immediately recapture the animal as well as inform the police department that the animal is at large and might be creating a hazard. All agricultural and farm animals shall be kept and controlled in a manner so as not to create a nuisance through loud or annoying noise, vicious or mean behavior, or by obnoxious or annoying smell.

(b) No person shall keep more than four (4) agricultural animals per acre within any residential district where any such animals are permitted, unless authorized by the appropriate regulating state agency.

MY TAKE AWAY TO ARTICLE B is that I can have up to 4 per acre if I have the approval of the City and HOA? City will not return my calls nor my email inquiries.
I have seen a few older threads from other Coconut Creek residents having issues with Code Enforcement but no results posted :-( Being that everyone is trying their hand at being self sustainable, I was hoping this would be easier!

your right written there can be 4 per acre if no neighbor complains if you have
2 acres you may have 8 it does not speak of rooster so could have one but may push a complaint... you do not need to ask for permission I wouldn't ask ignorance is bliss..... Welcome to Backyard Chickens

 

[NewbieChicky]

Good idea...I work 30 minutes north and they have the same hours I work. I will have to make that happen though.

 

[NewbieChicky]

Thanks all. I am in a residential zoned area (verses agricultural), this I know. But I have also seen in another portion of the municode that poultry is listed under the definition of domestic animal. I think I got the no rooster idea from the County municode.
I want to just say SCREW IT and DO IT but when this blows up in my face I will have to answer to my husband. I already have spoken to several horse farms around and they are willing to take in my chickens should I have a problem down the road.
Just hate that things are never black or white...everything has a different interpretation depending on who is reading it.

 

[The Moonshiner]

That last clause (Article b) kicks the can on down the road and rests final approval in some un-named or phantom state agency. Good luck. I smell a runaround.

That's only if you want to keep more than 4 per acre.

 

[NewbieChicky]

With the HOA, they are kind of a joke. Its a master association for umpteen developments and commercial lots within the City (Winston Park). The docs are from 1987 and specifically read NO CHAIN LINK FENCES but every house has chain link fence. We applied for a PVC fence and were denied because they said years back an off record meeting opted for only chain link fences and it was then recorded but bylaws not amended. The language on animals reads that they can adopt from time to time new rules and regulations.
I'm more worried about the City. Really, everyone thanks for chiming in. Feeling better about moving forward with my flock

 

[The Moonshiner]

I'm gonna say without an acre or more you will not be allowed any.
HOAs are always a pain in the @SS also. Even when they let other things slide and seem not to involved it always seems they are against chickens and enforce that.
With HOAs and city/county codes they are always worded so it is how interpreted.
That way they can twist everything in their favor when need be.

 

[DobieLover]

Sounds like you should drive to the City and talk to someone in person.

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

Find the Zoning map and see if your considered residential. Your adutiors office or website should also list what your specific property is zoned for.

Baring those giving information call the zoning inspector and ask.

In a city there are generally restrictions.
A township fewer if any.
But an HOA can trump them all say no.

The only problem with “ignorance is bliss” is if there is a complaint. It won’t matter you didn’t know. They will make you get rid of your birds.

Good Luck and Welcome