Repeated complaints have prompted Code Enforcement investigations, warnings, and rooster removals, but some birds remain difficult to trace to an owner.
Roosters may be common on rural properties, but residents within Plant City’s city limits are reminded that the birds can violate the city’s noise regulations when they are considered unreasonably loud.
The reminder comes as Plant City Code Enforcement continues to respond to complaints about roosters and chickens in the area of S. Forest Street, S. Morgan Street and E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
The complaints, reported by resident Lucious Sykes and other neighbors, have continued for more than a year, according to Sykes and a May 28 report prepared by Tina Barber, the city’s code enforcement manager.
The report shows Code Enforcement responded to multiple complaints between July 2025 and April 2026. When a responsible property owner or confirmed violation was identified, Code Enforcement took action to have roosters removed.
In July 2025, Code Enforcement investigated an area complaint from Sykes and reported that roosters were removed.
Another complaint in September resulted in a warning notice after no rooster was observed at the time of inspection. According to the report, the property owner told Code Enforcement the roosters did not belong to her and were coming onto her property.
Sykes disputes that account.
“Code enforcement told me they are not her roosters. What she did is she turned them loose to not get fined again. We did not have this problem before she brought the roosters,” Sykes said.
In November, another complaint involving the S. Forest Street area resulted in a warning and the removal of roosters.
In February 2026, an inspector responded to a complaint about roosters and chickens at a property on S. Morgan Street and spoke with the property owner about removing a rooster. The report said the rooster was removed while the chickens remained.
Other complaints did not result in an active violation. In December 2025, inspectors did not observe a rooster at the property identified in the complaint. A March 2026 complaint involved a rooster that appeared to be roaming and could not be connected to a specific property or owner.
In April, an inspector responded to a complaint about a rooster on E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard but did not see or hear a rooster at the property.
“I have had a meeting with the mayor and talked with other neighbors. We got new people moving into the neighborhood, and they brought roosters and chickens,” Sykes said. “I think it’s okay for them to have chickens, I mean as long as they’re not disturbing people, but the roosters, they are cruel. Especially in the morning. They are making noises at different times of the day and all through the day.”
According to the Code Enforcement report, the roaming nature of some of the roosters has made enforcement more difficult.
“The roosters appear to move through the neighborhood and onto different properties,” the report states.
Code Enforcement said it contacted several animal rescue organizations to see whether they could help trap or relocate roaming roosters. One organization, Maria’s Farm and Animal Rescue, said it was willing to place traps and attempt to capture the birds but currently has a long waiting list.
The city said enforcement action can only be taken when a violation is observed, documented, and connected to a responsible property owner or occupant.
At the time of the May 28 report, Code Enforcement did not have an open confirmed violation related to the rooster complaints. Previous complaints in which roosters were confirmed and connected to a responsible property owner had been addressed and closed.
Under Plant City’s Noise Ordinance, animals and birds that are “unreasonably loud” are prohibited, which can include roosters. Residents can file noise complaints, but the city notes that complaints are not anonymous.
Residents who keep roosters, chickens, or other livestock should also review the zoning requirements for their property to make sure they are in compliance.
For ongoing noise or other disturbances that do not involve a confirmed code violation, the city noted that residents may need to contact law enforcement or another applicable agency.
