At the April 8, 2020 City Commission Special Meeting Commissioner Weaver requested that a backyard chicken program be brought forward for further discussion, Mayor Leary said he would include the discussion under his report in the next meeting. Sustainability Program Staff drafted an ordinance based on backyard chicken program ordinances of cities of Orlando, Maitland and Longwood and requested program updates from each city. To date, the City of Orlando’s Backyard Chicken Program has issued 75 permits (Pilot launched in 2012), the City of Maitland’s Backyard Chicken Program has issued 10 permits (Pilot launched 2013) and the City of Longwood’s Backyard Chicken Program has yet to issue a permit (Launched in 2018).

At the April 13, 2020 City Commission Regular Meeting, Commissioner Weaver spoke to the benefits of introducing a backyard chicken program including improving local food system resilience during unforeseen food shortages and advancing the City’s Sustainability Action Plan Local Food & Agriculture goals of increasing local food consumption. The Commission discussed the drafted ordinance and based on this discussion the Commission requested that Sustainability Program staff work with the Keep Winter Park Beautiful & Sustainable Advisory Board and Planning and Zoning Board to bring back an ordinance to the Commission for consideration. This Ordinance addresses concerns brought by the City Commission during the April 13th meeting including:
• Type of Program. 24-month pilot program.
• Inspections. Follow up inspections to ensure criteria being met
• Number of Permits. Maximum of 50 permits during pilot program.
• Height Limit. 6’ height limit for accessory structure.
• Allowable Zoning Designations. Single-family residential only.
• Completion date of Educational Class. Completed within the last year.

This Ordinance also addresses concerns brought by the Keep Winter Park Beautiful and Sustainable Advisory Board at the board’s July 13, 2020 Regular Meeting:
• Animal Welfare. Access to food and water at all times.
• Disposal of waste materials (feed, manure and litter). Composted or bagged and disposed of in the trash.
• Prohibited areas. Prohibited in front yards. Allowed in side and back yards.
• Height Limit. Increase height limit to 7’ to allow for easy entry for cleaning.

As well as concerns brought by the Planning and Zoning Board at the board the board’s August 4, 2020 Regular Meeting:
• Prohibited areas. Prohibited in front and side yards. Allowed only in back yards.
• Number of Permits. Maximum of 25 permits during pilot program
• Neighbor consent. Requiring consent/approval from abutting property owners.

During the August 18, 2020 Keep Winter Park Beautiful and Sustainable Advisory Board meeting, several board members expressed strong concerns with the amendments recommended by the Planning and Zoning Board and the impacts they would have on the success of the program to support the City’s Sustainability Action Plan objectives of increasing community food production to provide local food sources and grow a resilient, sustainable local food system.