Three-year-old JJ Hart will be permitted to keep his chickens at his Volusia County home, according to family attorney Mark Nation.

Last week, DeBary City Council members voted to end a chicken pilot program.

JJ’s parents have maintained the chickens are therapeutic and help JJ break out of his shell.

JJ’s mother said her son’s social and verbal skills have improved tremendously because of the chickens.

Nation said the city agreed to make special accommodations for JJ and his chickens under three federal provisions.

“We told the city if they actually went through and took JJ’s chickens away, that we were going to sue them under the three acts,” Nation said. “Yesterday they called and says they were gonna grant a special accommodations for JJ under the Fair Housing Act, the American Disabilities Act, and the Rehabilitation Act.”



Nation said DeBary city leaders will now vote on the matter to make the accommodations for JJ and his chickens official.

