You Can Now Raise Backyard Chickens In Clearwater; Just Don't Let Them Run Loose

CLEARWATER, FL — In keeping with the national urban trend of raising backyard chickens, on Thursday the city of Clearwater approved an ordinance that allows residents of single-family homes to own up to four chickens.

The ordinance, however, comes with conditions. Chickens must be confined to a coop and run. Free-roaming chickens are strictly prohibited.

Council member Hoyt Hamilton cast the lone vote against the ordinance.

"My 'no' vote is not against chickens per se. Mine is that I don't think the ordinance as written allows the city enough oversight," Hamilton said. "The ordinance says the chickens are not to run loose all over the property. I don't think the ordinance gives us enough oversight to make sure that's how it's being done."

In previous discussions, Mayor Frank Hibbard raised similar concerns but, in the end, said it's difficult to buck a popular trend.

"I have reservations as well. If we see a cycle of bad ownership and it becomes an enforcement issue for us, then I'll be ready to repeal the ordinance in a heartbeat," he said. "Otherwise, we're surrounded by other cities that have allowed it, and I don't think they've had that many problems. I'm willing to at least give it a shot."

The decision was a victory for Tara "Pickles" Penix and other residents who love chickens not only as pets but for the organic eggs they provide.

She noted that allowing chickens to roam free isn't much of a problem for chicken lovers who want to protect their pets from predators.

"They're on the bottom of the food chain," Penix said. "No one's going to let them run around on purpose. The cats will eat them."

To further ease concerns, Penix told the council she witnessed firsthand the efforts of the nonprofit Pinellas County Chicken Rescue group, which rescues, rehabilitates, reunites or rehomes loose chickens.

She said a rooster was recently on the run in Clearwater. The rescue group showed up within minutes after being called to wrangle the wayward rooster.

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Like Gulfport, Largo, Dunedin, St. Petersburg, Pinellas Park, Seminole, Tarpon Springs, Kenneth City, Belleair and unincorporated Pinellas County, permits will not be required to raise backyard chickens. Unincorporated Pinellas County and those cities have ordinances allowing residents to own four to 12 chickens.

Under the new ordinance, residents will not be allowed to own roosters, sell chicken or eggs or slaughter chickens. Residents must also abide by city setbacks rules to ensure that chicken coops and runs aren't too close to neighboring properties and coops and runs must be screened from public view.

Enforcement will take place after the city receives a complaint about noise, smell or chickens running loose.

In researching the ordinance, Assistant City Attorney Matthew Mytych said the city of St. Petersburg, which allows up to 10 chickens, receives about two noise complaints each week.

The city of Dunedin has received only five complaints about noise and smell in the last five years.