Parent asks DeBary council for rooster accommodation as therapy for child with autism

At a City of DeBary meeting in January, Barbara Velasquez told the council she was seeking an accommodation to allow her son Maverick, who has autism, to keep chickens and roosters at their home for therapeutic benefit. "We are willing to work with the city on reasonable conditions, including coop location, cleanup procedures and noise management," Velasquez said, and asked the council to consider medical and evidence-based benefits of animal-assisted interaction.

Velasquez cited the City of DeBary land development code and a 2022 ordinance that permitted backyard chickens in rural residential and rural estate zones and said the ordinance had been amended to allow chickens on some single-family properties with standards for structures and uses. She referenced federal protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Fair Housing Act and said the U.S. Department of Justice recognizes that support animals and necessary modifications can qualify for reasonable-accommodation protections.

Mayor Chazet (chair) suggested Velasquez meet with City Manager Rosamunda and the city attorney to explore accommodations and advised residents to seek an accommodation before a code violation occurs. Council member Stevenson said the council had discussed extending chicken allowances citywide in the past but that work remained unfinished; Stevenson expressed concern about roosters in residential neighborhoods while saying chickens should be reasonable for many residents and urged the council to take up the matter promptly.

Ashley Hart, speaking in support, described her own experience seeking accommodations for a child with special needs and urged the city manager to be responsive and avoid long delays.

No formal motion or vote was taken on an accommodation during the meeting; the council directed staff to meet with the resident and return with options.