Stuart and Martin County · City of Stuart
Backyard chickens in Stuart: the draft rules, and why there's no vote yet
Stuart's draft Ordinance 2552 would let some homeowners keep up to four hens with a permit. It hasn't been adopted. The city is putting a six-question resident survey to the Commission on 2026-10-26 first.
Where it stands
Not adopted. At second reading on 2026-09-14, the City Commission heard it for discussion only and continued the vote to 2026-10-12, then asked staff to bring back a resident survey. The ordinance wasn't on the 10/12 agenda.
Next: on 2026-10-26 the Commission considers Resolution 85-2026, approving a six-question citizen survey on whether to allow backyard chickens. The survey's title refers to homesteaded single-family properties, a narrower group than the draft ordinance covers.
What the draft ordinance says
As posted for 2026-09-14. Today, chickens count as livestock and aren't allowed.
- Who: occupied single-family homes and duplexes in the R-1A, R-1, R-2, Urban Neighborhood, and East Stuart single-family districts. Not apartments, townhomes, triplexes or mobile home parks.
- How many: up to 4 hens. No roosters.
- Permit: required from the city first. Tenants need the owner's written consent.
- The coop: rear yard only, up to 120 square feet including the pen, and up to 6 feet tall.
- Setbacks: at least 5 feet from side and rear lot lines, 20 feet from a side street, and 25 feet from any house on a neighboring lot.
- Screening: a 6-foot opaque fence or wall on the property line. Chain-link doesn't count.
- Personal use only: no selling eggs, birds or manure, and no breeding or slaughter.
- Upkeep: a rodent-proof coop, feed in sealed containers, and compost kept 20 feet from all lot lines.
- Revocation: the city can revoke a permit, for example after more than 3 violations in 90 days.
Changes floated, but not in the text
- Local Planning Agency (2026-05-14, 3-1): replace the permit with an annual license, $65 the first year and $10 to renew.
- Community Redevelopment Board: 7-foot coops, a 5-foot fence, and allowing hedges as screening, according to the Local Planning Agency minutes.
- City Commission members: homesteaded properties only, no duplexes, and a 1-year pilot.
Concerns raised
The city's environmental attorney raised stormwater and water-body concerns, noting that nearby jurisdictions had decided against allowing chickens near the Indian River Lagoon and southern water bodies.
Hearings
| Board | Date | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Community Redevelopment Board | 2026-05-05 | Heard; minutes not posted |
| Local Planning Agency | 2026-05-14 | Recommended approval with a license instead of a permit, 3-1 |
| City Commission, first reading | 2026-06-08 | Moved to second reading, 3-1 |
| City Commission, second reading | 2026-06-22 | Continued to 2026-09-14 |
| City Commission, second reading | 2026-09-14 | Discussion only; vote continued; survey requested |
| City Commission | 2026-10-26 | Upcoming: the citizen survey (Resolution 85-2026) |
Sources
- City Commission, 2026-09-14: agenda, draft ordinance, minutes
- City Commission, 2026-10-26: agenda
- Local Planning Agency, 2026-05-14: minutes
Written from the draft ordinance and the minutes. Last checked 2026-10-21.
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