How many horses can one have on a residential property in Palm Beach County? One would think that this is an easy answer to get but it’s not.
First, I am thinking residentially zoned property in places like Jupiter Farms. So outside the municipality of places like Jupiter or Palm Beach Gardens and no Home Owners Association such as in places like Caloosa.
So I reached out to code enforcement and asked: Where in the code this would be regulated? I was told that the county does NOT have a regulation on how many horses one may keep, OF THEIR OWN, on private property. As long as you are taking care of them you will be ok. If not then that would be Animal Control. If you will be boarding horses then their are rules and then you will have to go through planning and zoning.
I called PB County Animal Care and Contol who is tasked with ensuring that there is adequate space and shelter for each horse but does NOT limit the number of them to say X per acre. Now, if one would like to board horses on their property for others then we get into a zoning question?
First go into PAPA and get the parcel ID of the property. Then use the Palm Beach County planning and zoning tool to look up what’s called the “Tier” of the property. If you are reading this then you’re probably in the “Rural” (like Jupiter Farms and Caloosa) or “Exurban” (like Palm Beach Country Estates and the acreage) Tier BUT CHECK. The county Q & A states that…Is livestock allowed in a residential district? Answer: Pursuant to ULDC, Article 5.B.1.A.21, Livestock, domesticated livestock shall be allowed accessory to a single-family residential use, if located in the Rural and Exurban Tiers and not within a Planned Unit Development (PUD), however sales are prohibited. Next, the definition of livestock.
Article 4 of the Palm Beach County code of ordinace SHOULD cover horses. Horses are included in the definition of “Equine.” But there is NO LIMIT to the number of horses set under section 4-22 of the PB County Code. Thus, one may have a PRIVATE use stable in the Rural and Exurban Tier where one may have as many horses as one may adequatly care for. And, one may build up to 12 stalls as an Accessory Use Structure with a 25′ set back from the rear and side property lines. AND, IF the lot is over 2 acres then one may board up to 4 horses.
- Stable, Private
a. Definition
The breeding, boarding, training, or raising care of horses owned by the occupants or owners of the premises. A Private Stable shall comply with the PBCACC.
b. Setbacks
1) Accessory Structure
A Private Stable with 12 stalls or fewer located on a parcel with a Single Family residence shall be considered an accessory structure and shall meet the setback requirements for an accessory structure, or 25 feet, whichever is greater.
2) Principal Structure
A Private Stable with more than 12 stalls located on a parcel with a Single Family residence, or a vacant parcel, shall be considered a principal structure and shall meet the applicable setback requirements for a principal structure.
c. Boarding
On sites of at least two acres, boarding for up to four horses not owned by the owner or occupant of the premises shall be permitted.
