Polk County cannot ban or restrict any dog by breed. Florida Statute 767.14 prohibits local governments from adopting breed-, weight-, or size-specific dog regulations. Polk County regulates dangerous dogs by behavior under Ch. 767, not by breed.
Florida law preempts breed-specific legislation. FS 767.14 lets counties add safety requirements for dogs that have bitten or attacked, but expressly forbids any regulation specific to breed, weight, or size. A 2023 amendment (SB 942) removed the last grandfather clause, so as of October 1, 2023 no Florida local government - including Polk County - may enforce breed bans such as pit bull restrictions. Polk County instead classifies individual dogs as 'dangerous' under FS Chapter 767 based on conduct, and imposes confinement, insurance, signage, and registration on those specific animals. Landlords and HOAs may still impose private breed rules, but the county government cannot.
Not applicable to residents - the preemption restrains the government. Any breed-specific local ordinance is unenforceable and void under FS 767.14.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Polk County, FL
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Polk County, FL
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Polk County, FL
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See how Polk County's breed restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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