Lee County Editorial Says "Make a Place for Chickens"

The Fort Myers News Press has weighed in on an increasingly common phenomenon: a urban homesteading family with a few hens gets busted and that leads to a community debate about whether or not chickens are inappropriate in residential areas. 

The editorial, dated June 16th, 2011 is in response to a code enforcement case in Lehigh Acres. It seems the Caminos are unemployed and concluded raising some of their own food could be part of a strategy to weather tough economic times. But residential zoning in unincorporated Lee County does not allow poultry.

Screen shot from News Press video

The editorial argues that limits are needed but is generally supportive of the Caminos and the right, in these economic times, to some urban homesteading that includes a few chickens.

The editorial concludes: "We complain all the time about government being expected to do too much for people. Here are two people who want to do something for themselves. Let them."

Read the editorial here.

Watch video here.


An online poll suggest three quarters of those responding believe people should be allowed to keep chickens at their home.