Peacocks have roamed parts of Casselberry for decades, but some homeowners say the colorful birds have become an expensive nuisance. Now city leaders are exploring whether to remove the birds from an ordinance that currently protects them.

Casselberry commissioners held a workshop Monday evening to hear from homeowners on both sides of the debate and discuss possible changes to the city’s bird sanctuary ordinance.

One homeowner shared video with News 6 showing a peacock repeatedly pecking at his window. He said the damage cost hundreds of dollars to repair.

Other homeowners described damage to pool screens, cars and landscaping, along with concerns about noise, droppings and aggressive behavior.

“I’m not a person who is against the peacocks, but I am against being helpless when we are faced with property damage,” one homeowner told commissioners.

But not everyone wants the protections changed.

“Yes, they can be noisy. Yes, they can be messy. But they also bring beauty, personality, and a little bit of wonder to our neighborhoods,” another resident said.

The debate has an interesting history.

In 2017, residents of Casselberry’s Lost Lake neighborhood asked the city to protect its peacocks after concerns arose about someone trapping and relocating the birds. A petition with 29 signatures helped prompt commissioners to designate the entire city a bird sanctuary.

Nearly a decade later, some homeowners in that same neighborhood say the ordinance prevents them from doing anything about birds damaging their property.

During Monday’s workshop, commissioners expressed interest in creating an exception to the ordinance that could allow homeowners to arrange for peacocks to be humanely trapped and removed.

“I don’t think I need to solve the peacock problem. I think I need to allow the residents to solve the peacock problem,” Commissioner Nancy Divita said.

But changing the rules may not be simple.

The city previously worked with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to establish restrictions on duck hunting. Casselberry’s city attorney explained that it’s unclear whether peacocks can be excluded from the bird sanctuary protections without affecting those broader restrictions.

“The city commission has asked us to explore the idea of allowing the carve-out for peafowl, but only after we consult with the Fish and Wildlife Commission,” City Manager Randy Newlon told News 6.

Commissioners also discussed discouraging residents from feeding peacocks, which city staff says can contribute to nuisance behavior. However, they questioned how a feeding prohibition could be enforced.

For now, nothing changes.

City staff will consult FWC to determine what options are legally available before returning to commissioners for further direction.

Newlon estimated that process could take approximately three months before the issue comes back before the commission, although he emphasized that was only a guess.

Until then, Casselberry’s peacocks remain protected under the existing ordinance.