CASSELBERRY, Fla. – A resident of Casselberry, faced with the threat of fines for keeping four hens in her backyard, has successfully prompted city officials to revisit their regulations.
Lindsay Feist has long kept her hens at home, under the impression that she was in compliance with local laws, given that Seminole County permits residents in unincorporated areas to have up to four hens.
However, the situation took a turn last week when a city worker spotted her chicken coop from a nearby service road. Shortly thereafter, a notice from code enforcement appeared on her door, giving her a 10-day ultimatum to remove the birds or incur penalties.
“My 15-year-old son brought the notice to my attention, and he was very upset and anxious about it,” Feist recounted.
Determined to address the matter, Feist presented her case to the Casselberry City Commission. During the meeting, a group of supporters rallied behind her, signing petitions and voicing their approval for allowing backyard hens.
In response to the outpouring of community support, commissioners agreed on Monday night to task staff with drafting an ordinance for review. They also decided to pause any enforcement actions while the matter is under consideration.
“This is a major step forward,” Feist wrote on social media following the meeting. “It means the City is officially moving forward with creating a framework that would allow residents to legally keep hens in Casselberry.”
News 6 reached out to Casselberry City Manager Randy Newman, who said backyard hens are currently prohibited under city code, but commissioners are expected to revisit the issue at a future meeting, possibly as soon as June 22.
Supporters note that unincorporated Seminole County already allows up to four hens, and nearby Longwood has its own backyard chicken program.
“We’re not asking for special treatment,” Feist said. “We would just like some clear regulations that everyone can understand and abide by.”
Feist’s next-door neighbor Miguel Valdes said the hens are quiet and that they appreciate the free eggs.
“Anything we can do as a society to help people become more self-sustaining, I think should be encouraged,” Valdes said.
Carl Brown, who lives nearby, said he had no idea anyone in the neighborhood even had chickens.
“I don’t have a problem with chickens,” Brown said. “We have kids and dogs in the neighborhood, and I feel like they’re more crazy than chickens.”
For now, Feist and her family are waiting to see whether city leaders ultimately decide to allow backyard hens within city limits.
