MIAMI chicken laws? Residential neighborhood?

[treecow]

I have 3 four week old buff orpingtons. Some sites say up to 15 hens, others say no chickens and no if's, but's or why's. I'm new to chickens so i dont exactly know how high the noise level gets and am a little nervous........neighbor down the block has chickens and roosters, never knew they existed until i saw them running in the street! I need to know a good place to find the REAL zoning ordinances for my neighborood to see if i have to keep them secretly or let them roam free like my neighbors

 

[MysticScorpio82]

Quote:
Have you tried calling your city hall yet and asking?

 

[WalkingWolf]

I used to work in Miami and saw chickens everywhere, can't imagine they are illegal there.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Find out what your zoning is and then look up the zoning codes to see what is and is not allowed.

 

[consdrs]

I agree call city hall and ask. BUT letting my chickens run in the street.... I don't know if I would aspire to that...

Connie

 

[WalkingWolf]

Quote:
Miami is one of those places where chickens are part of the culture, my warehouse was in a district that had a lot of old homes. Yes chickens run the streets in these neighborhoods, much the same as they do in Key West. I have not been there in 10 years though things may have changed.

Well I looked it up and indeed it is against the law in Miami to have chickens, and they now have a team of chicken catchers to go round them up. When I would go to Miami from the Keys once a week chickens in the neighborhoods was common. A shame that the city just does not understand the culture. But I guess the yankees that moved down there just don't like to listen to chicken music. Seems like it would be better to have a team to round up the yankees.

 

[Ms Miami]

So great to hear of a fellow BO flock in Miami!
Miami-Dade county states 10 hens no roos, I believe the enclosure has to be 10 feet from any structure where ppl reside. It's posted on the county website if you google it. Depending on what city in Miami you are in you will also have a separate set of rule that supersedes county regulations. For example, if your in S. Miami, and they say no chickens, you may not get caught, but if someone complains you loose your flock and get a fine. Some people feel it's best to let their flock of hens or ducks free range in the streets, that way you can't prove ownership. But thats also how you get the wild chickens, ducks, the wild cats, and these dead animals in the street, which are problems our cities are trying to resolve.
Ft. Lauderdale is trying to raise the ban on backyard chickens, if we are responsible in Miami-Dade, we could get more cities to be more lenient. Lots of ppl have chickens here for religious, cultural or personal reasons. Chickens really are a part of the SFL lifestyle.