A Coup For Fans of Coops; Hillsborough OKs Backyard Chickens

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — You no longer have to live on a farm or agriculturally zoned property to own chickens in Hillsborough County.

The Hillsborough County Commission has adopted an ordinance allowing residents to keep a limited number of chickens in backyard chicken coops.

The ordinance, proposed by Commissioner Sandy Murman and approved unanimously, is similar to the ordinance adopted by the city of Tampa in 2012.

It permits single-family and duplex homeowners to raise up to five hens in an enclosed chicken coop in their backyards provided they're allowed by the neighborhood's deed restrictions. Roosters, who having the annoying habit of crowing before sunrise, are prohibited.

The ordinance is intended to allow Hillsborough County residents to take part in the current trend of raising chickens for their fresh, organic eggs.

The new ordinance will go into effect once it's been filed with the Florida Secretary of State.

To learn more about raising backyard chickens, visit the University of Florida's IFAS Extension.