Manatee County, FL Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Sec. 2-4-10(a) covers 'vicious animals' generally: any dog or cat that, unprovoked, bites, attacks, endangers, or injures a person, domestic animal, or livestock, or chases someone in a menacing way, violates this section, except that a dog is not in violation for biting, attacking, or killing a chicken. Subsection (b) adopts Chapter 767, Florida Statutes, on dangerous dogs in its entirety, and adds county-specific conditions on top of the state registration requirements: an owner must sterilize the dog within 30 calendar days of the dangerous declaration, provide a current veterinary health certificate, have the dog microchipped and registered at the owner's current address, post approved signage at every entrance to the property, and confine the dog in a secure enclosure, a minimum of 4 feet by 8 feet, with a top and sides of at least 11-gauge chain link wire secured to a concrete floor, that does not share fencing with the property's perimeter.

The division must also get access for at least two compliance inspections a year, and only registers owners who are at least 18 years old and pay the applicable fee. Subsection (c) makes a subsequent unprovoked attack by a dog already declared dangerous a criminal offense, requires the owner to cover boarding and investigative costs during any hearing, and, if the owner timely appeals, blocks euthanasia unless two veterinarians determine destruction is necessary to prevent the animal's suffering.