Chickens, goats and bees may be Waldo’s newest residents

WALDO – Residents of Waldo may be able to keep chickens, goats and bees on their property to promote self-sustaining practices and the growing local food movement.

During Tuesday’s City Commission meeting, members debated whether these domestic animals should be able to live on residential property, or if they would be nuisances for the city.

Two citizens approached the city because they wanted to keep chickens on their properties. After research and discussions with Agriculture Extension agents at the University of Florida Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), goats and bees were added to the list because of their ability to produce food for personal consumption.

Each household would be able to keep two chickens, one goat and one bee hive on their property. Two hens will produce approximately 400 eggs per year. One goat will produce an average of  three quarts of milk, and one beehive will produce 50 pounds of honey per year.

The ordinance mandates that chicken coops should be placed a minimum of 10 feet from rear and side property lines and a minimum of 40 feet from any residential home on adjacent properties. Chickens and goats must be kept in fenced areas, and chickens should be kept within the coop from dusk until dawn.

Chickens and goats are not allowed to roam beyond their fenced areas, and no type of animal is allowed to be kept in any front yard.

Beekeepers must be registered with the State of Florida and adhere to the Best Management Practices set forth by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Citizens would not be able to use the animals and their by-products for commercial profit.

Councilwoman Carolyn Wade raised questions about a part of the ordinance that required residents to control odors and noises from the animals. She said these factors might not be under residents’ control.

“I don’t know how you can get away from odor and noise,” she said. “If my neighbor had a goat that made noises and produced odors, I would have a problem with that.”

Councilman Rick Pisano, who previously raised goats, said this should not be an issue.

“They don’t stink more than having two dogs in your backyard,” he said.

The threat of natural predators was also considered at the City Commission meeting. There has been an increase in the number of coyotes in neighborhoods around Gainesville. Common neighborhood dogs and cats may also become predators.

Black bears may pose a risk because of their attraction to the honey that bees produce. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission shows that the Waldo area is in a secondary Florida Black Bear range, which means that these bears are likely traveling through the area.

Currently, Gainesville is the only jurisdiction that allows a maximum of two chickens on residential land. Alachua County is in the process of amending their Unified Land Development Code to allow a range of poultry and farm animals to live on residential property.

Commissioners debated whether all three types of animals could be housed on the same property. An enforcement officer would ensure that this and other ordinances were being followed properly.

Mayor Louie Davis and Councilman Rodney Estes were absent from the commission meeting. The consensus was to table to issue until more members were able to attend the next meeting.

Councilwoman Carolyn Wade said she does not see anything wrong with this proposal.

“For the good of the community, if the people want them, I don’t see why we would reject this.”