Backyard chickens are now allowed in Indian Harbour Beach under a relatively stringent permitting program that requires owners to submit plans, complete a class and have chicken coops hidden behind opaque fences.
Only four hens and no roosters are now allowed per single-family home, representing progress on a topic that first came up May 14 before the Indian Harbour Beach City Council. Some council members did not know that there are presently several homes with backyard chickens in Indian Harbour Beach, in violation of City Code.
Ashton Gelzinis of Indian Harbour Beach, mother of two boys under age 6, brought the request for a code change to the council after a complaint started a deadline for the removal of her family’s brood hens, which the Gelzinises have enjoyed keeping for seven years. In less than two weeks, she collected more than 100 signatures in support of the code change. The main opposition from council had stemmed from concerns about cleanliness and health issues.
Rules for backyard chickens approved by the council June 11 include: four hens maximum; no roosters; single family homes; no coop closer than 10 feet of property lines; not for commercial sale of eggs or hens; stored feed must be kept in a pest-proof container or be kept inside a secured structure; completion of training class; chickens and coop must be kept behind an opaque fence; chickens must be kept within a coop or enclosure, and may not be released to free range unless confined to the fenced rear yard.
The council considered having quarterly inspections, but decided on just requiring initial inspections for permitting and a repeat inspection upon annual permit renewal unless there is a complaint.
Most local cities and Brevard County allow chickens with regulations. The cities in Brevard prohibiting backyard chickens include Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach, Palm Shores and Indialantic.
