Alachua County, FL Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Basis for classification
- documented behavior, not breed
- Compliance deadline
- 14 calendar days after final order
- Liability insurance (dangerous dog)
- $500,000 aggregate / $250,000 per incident
- Permanent ID required
- microchip or tattoo
- Enforcing agency
- Alachua County Animal Resources
- Hearing request window
- 7 calendar days after notice
Summary
Alachua County has no breed-specific dog rules; instead it classifies individual dogs as "dangerous" or "aggressive" based on documented incidents, then requires 14-day compliance with registration, insurance, sterilization, enclosure and signage, or the dog becomes county property.
Sec. 72.14. Dangerous dogs. (a)Dangerous dog investigations, determinations, classifications, and other actions, including related hearings and appeals, shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of F.S. ch. 767, part II, as may be amended. Animal resources shall investigate reported incidents involving any dog that may be dangerous and, if possible, will interview the owner and require a sworn affidavit from any person, including any enforcement officer, desiring to have a dog classified as a dangerous dog. ... (e)(1)a. Within 14 calendar days after issuance of the final order classifying the dog as dangerous dog ... obtain a certificate of registration for the dog from animal resources, and renew the certificate annually ... sufficient evidence of: 1.A current certificate of rabies vaccination for the dog. 2.A Proper enclosure of a dangerous dog. 3.Posting of the property where the dog resides with a clearly visible warning sign ... 5.Have completed surgical sterilization of the dog, unless a veterinarian certifies in writing that sterilizing the dog would be injurious to the dog's health. ... 7.Liability insurance maintained in a minimum amount of $500,000.00 aggregate/$250,000.00 per incident, for each dangerous dog.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 63).
Full Breakdown
14). ch. 767, part II," interviewing the owner and requiring a sworn affidavit from anyone seeking a dangerous-dog classification; a dog involved in an incident causing severe human injury may be immediately confiscated and quarantined pending the investigation and any appeals, while lesser cases can instead be shelter-in-place confined under a written agreement. 14(b)). 1-7). 14(e)(1)c), and the owner must immediately report if it gets loose, bites, is sold, or moves. 14(e)(3)). 15 runs a parallel, somewhat lighter track for "aggressive" dogs, requiring rabies proof, enclosure, signage, microchip ID and sterilization within the same 14-day window, with the same forfeiture consequence for noncompliance. 16, filed within 7 calendar days of notice, with a hearing held 5-21 days later and appeal to circuit court within 10 business days.
Violations & Fines
Once a dog is classified dangerous or aggressive, failing to register, insure, enclose, muzzle, sterilize, microchip or post signage within the 14-calendar-day deadline is a noncriminal infraction enforceable by injunction under §72.14(g)/§72.15(h), and the dog becomes county property if the deadline passes unmet with no appeal pending (§72.14(e)(3), §72.15). Owners must also immediately report if a classified dog escapes, bites, is sold, or is relocated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Alachua County ban specific dog breeds?
What must I do once my dog is classified dangerous?
What's the difference between "dangerous" and "aggressive" dogs here?
What happens if I miss the 14-day compliance deadline?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Alachua County
How Alachua County compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Alachua County to another location·View the Florida animal ordinances overview
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