CASSELBERRY, Fla. \u2013 Casselberry commissioners are set to consider a one-year pilot program Monday that would allow some residents to legally keep backyard chickens within city limits.<\/p>\n
Resolution 26-3589 is scheduled for consideration during the City Commission meeting beginning at 5:30 p.m. The city manager and community development director are recommending approval.<\/p>\n
The proposal follows a roughly two-month push led by Casselberry resident Lindsay Feist, who said she has kept four hens in her backyard for about three years.<\/p>\n
Feist said the chickens provide her family with eggs, pest control, education and companionship.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe benefits of backyard hens are immeasurable, right?\u201d Feist said. \u201cEducation for my kids. Sustainable organic food for our family. Companionship.\u201d<\/p>\n
The issue reached City Hall in June after Feist said a code compliance employee noticed her chicken coop while responding to an unrelated matter along a nearby service road.<\/p>\n
Feist said she was cited and given 10 days to remove the chickens.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy family\u2019s owned this house since 1984,\u201d Feist said. \u201cSo I said, I don\u2019t want to have to choose between keeping my chickens and selling my house and moving somewhere where I\u2019m allowed to have them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Backyard hens are currently prohibited under Casselberry\u2019s city code.<\/p>\n
After Feist raised the issue, commissioners agreed to temporarily hold off on enforcement and directed city staff to research backyard chicken programs in other Florida communities.<\/p>\n
Staff presented its findings June 22, examining potential benefits, challenges, enforcement options, and effects on surrounding properties. Commissioners then directed staff to prepare a resolution establishing a one-year pilot program.<\/p>\n
Under the proposed framework, the program would be limited to 100 free permits and allow participating households to keep up to six hens. Roosters would not be allowed.<\/p>\n
Participants would also be required to complete a chicken-keeping course and provide a secure coop that meets the city\u2019s size and safety requirements.<\/p>\n
Feist said the limited program would allow the city to gather information and address any problems before considering permanent regulations.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey can gather some data, make sure that things are \u2014 they work out all the kinks before ideally moving toward permanently adopting an ordinance,\u201d Feist said.<\/p>\n
City documents show the pilot program is not expected to affect the city\u2019s currently approved budget.<\/p>\n
Feist said she approached commissioners with potential regulations instead of only asking them to reverse the code enforcement action.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of times people come to the city with a problem, and I tried to come to the city with a solution,\u201d Feist said.<\/p>\n
If commissioners approve the resolution, city leaders would evaluate the program after one year and decide whether to adopt a permanent ordinance allowing backyard chickens in Casselberry.<\/p>\n
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