A Marion County couple’s feathered friend has officially beaten the odds — and the zoning code. Francisco and Rosita Marrero of Ocklawaha can now legally keep their emotional support duck after the Marion County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved their request for a special use permit this month.
The Marreros’ Muscovy duck, a large, quiet bird with red facial features that make it look permanently surprised, had ruffled feathers in the neighborhood last year when it briefly flew over a fence and landed in a neighbor’s yard. That incident prompted a call to code enforcement, which led the couple down a bureaucratic path no duck owner expects to travel.
Determined to keep their longtime pet, the Marreros built a taller fence to prevent future flyovers, and submitted a Reasonable Accommodation Special Use Permit — complete with a doctor’s note confirming the bird’s therapeutic role.
County staff inspected the property, reporting no odor, waste, or noise issues. The duck lives comfortably in a 15-by-15-foot pen alongside four chickens, with access to a coop set back ten feet from the property line.
The family also has two dogs and two cats, all within county code limits. The duck’s coop was found to comply with required setbacks, positioned ten feet from the property line, and the fencing met screening and buffering standards for residential neighborhoods.
County documents noted the duck’s good behavior and the owners’ compliance with all conditions, including regular waste removal and maintenance of the fenced pen. Staff even pointed out that Muscovy ducks, unlike most breeds, don’t quack unless threatened, a trait the Marreros’ neighbors can probably appreciate. Neighbors were notified in advance, and no objections were filed.
The couple’s application referenced the Reasonable Accommodation section of the county’s Land Development Code, which allows residents with documented needs to request exceptions to zoning rules. With the vote complete, the Marreros’ emotional support duck is now free to live out its days in peace, officially recognized as one of Marion County’s most law-abiding birds.
