Common Violations & Citations

Citations

Animal Control Officers may issue citations when a violation of the ordinances has occurred. The citations issued by Animal Control are civil in nature, not criminal. The amount of the fine will vary between $50 and $250. The amount of the fine is determined by the nature of the violation and how many times the violator has previously been cited. In some cases, a court appearance is mandatory.

Chapter 4 of the City Code of Ordinances, Animal & Fowl
The entire code may be viewed by clicking the link above.

Common Violations

Sec. 4-21. - Running at large.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to permit any cattle, horses, sheep, chickens, ducks, goats, turkeys, dogs, cats, or any other domestic, exotic or wild animals or fowl to run at large in the city except as otherwise provided by law or ordinance.

Sec. 4-22. - Restraint of animals; generally.
(a) Animals shall not be allowed outside the confines of their own homes without proper restraint by means of leash, fenced area, electronic barrier, cage/crate, or other physical means of controlling the animal.

Sec. 4-23. - Public areas.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to bring any animal, except seeing eye dogs, any dog trained to assist the handicapped, or governmental police dog, upon the beaches or parks owned by the city.

Sec. 4-24. - Animal abuse, cruelty, or neglect.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to abandon, beat, treat with cruelty, overwork, or otherwise abuse any animal.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person keeping an animal to fail to provide for that animal:
    (1) Clean, sanitary and humane conditions; kennels, runs, shelters, and living areas shall be kept clean of animal excrement;
    (2) Sufficient quantities of food and fresh water daily; food must be free from contamination and water placed in a container that cannot           be tipped over or spilled;
    (3) Proper air ventilation and circulation;
    (4) Sufficient shelter as defined in this chapter; and,
    (5) Medical attention and/or necessary veterinary care when it is sick, diseased or injured.
(c) Animals maintained on a tether must be in an area free of objects that may cause entanglements. All tethers must be a minimum of ten (10) feet in length. Choke-type or prong-type collars shall be used only while the animal is under the handler's direct control.
(d) It shall be unlawful for an owner or operator of a motor vehicle to place or confine an animal or allow it to be placed or confined within an unattended motor vehicle without sufficient ventilation or under conditions for such a period of time as may be reasonably expected to endanger the health or well being of such animal due to heat, lack of water, or such other circumstances as may be reasonably expected to cause suffering, disability, or death of an animal.

Sec. 4-25. - Animal injury; unlawful killing.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person injuring any dog, cat, or other domestic animal by any means, including a motor vehicle, to fail to notify the owner of the animal, if known, the police department, or the animal control officer. Any person who, as an operator of a motor vehicle, strikes a domestic animal shall stop at once and render such assistance as may be possible.

Sec. 4-26. - Animal care.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to tease or molest an animal.
(d) Female animals in heat (estrus) shall at all times be kept under restraint or confined within a building or secure enclosure in such a manner that such female animal cannot come into contact with male animal of like species except for planned breeding.

Sec. 4-27. - Rabies vaccination required.
(a) The owner or custodian of every dog, cat, and ferret, four months of age and older must obtain and maintain current and valid vaccination against rabies for these animals by a licensed veterinarian, and maintain a certificate of current and valid vaccination, in accordance with F.S. § 828.30.

Sec. 4-28. - Rabies tags required.
(a) Dogs and cats must wear current and valid rabies tags, issued by a licensed veterinarian vaccinating an animal pursuant to this article, securely affixed to a collar or harness at all times except when the animal is being shown in competition. The requirement to wear a rabies tag shall not apply to government owned law enforcement service dogs.

Sec. 4-30. - Limitation on the number of cats and dogs.
(a) It shall be unlawful to own, harbor, or keep more than five (5) domestic animals, four (4) months or older.

Sec. 4-32. - Restraint and confinement of vicious animals or dangerous dogs.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any owner to keep any vicious animal or dangerous dog, as defined herein, within the city unless it is confined within a secured building or securely fenced enclosure or to allow the animal to be taken outside this confinement without being under restraint and sufficiently muzzled to prevent biting.

Sec. 4-50. - Registration required.
(a) Except as otherwise provided herein, it shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, harbor, maintain, or have custody of any dog or cat four (4) months or older, within the city, unless such dog or cat is registered in accordance with the provisions of this article.

Sec. 4-51. - Registration tags required.
(a) Dogs and cats must wear valid registration tags, issued pursuant to this article, securely affixed to a collar or harness at all times except when the animal is being shown in competition.

Sec. 4-53. - Breeder registration required.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate as a cat or dog breeder unless such person has been currently registered as a breeder in accordance with the provisions of this article. Sec. 4-20. - Public nuisance.