Backyard Chickens Coming to Bradenton: New Ordinance Allows Up to Four Hens per Home
Bradenton residents will soon be able to raise hens in their backyards, thanks to a new ordinance promoting sustainability, education, and food security for local families.
Beginning soon, single-family homeowners within the city limits will be permitted to keep up to four hens, provided they meet a detailed list of requirements. The move comes amid rising food prices and increased interest in local food production, with many residents seeing chickens as more than just a novelty—they're an opportunity to teach responsibility, manage food waste, and enjoy a steady supply of fresh eggs.
Under the new ordinance, homeowners must obtain an annual permit to keep hens, and their properties must meet strict standards related to space, sanitation, fencing, and animal care. Hens must be housed in coops that provide at least four square feet per bird and may include open pens for daytime roaming. All coops and enclosures must be located at least 10 feet from property lines and must be surrounded by a six-foot opaque fence or wall.
The ordinance prohibits roosters entirely and outlines measures to prevent odor, noise, and disease. Chickens must be kept in sanitary conditions and under veterinary care when necessary. City officials may remove any birds found roaming public areas.
The ordinance also includes a provision preventing vacation rental properties from keeping chickens and places responsibility for rodent control squarely on the property owner.
City officials plan to monitor the program's rollout and may revisit the ordinance based on its impact on the community. For now, residents eager to bring hens home can begin preparing their backyards for a more self-sufficient lifestyle—one egg at a time.
