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

Division 4 of the animal control chapter governs dangerous animal declarations. Under Sec. 4-91, once an animal is classified as dangerous under the article's definitions, it must at that point either be confined permanently to the owner's premises or humanely destroyed. Classification is not automatic: Sec. 4-93(a) lets any adult person or an animal control officer petition, under oath, to have an animal classified as dangerous, triggering an investigation by the director of animal control. The owner gets written notice of any sufficient-cause finding and proposed penalty and can request a hearing before the county animal classification committee, made up of a licensed veterinarian, the county sheriff or a designee, and a citizen appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, within seven calendar days.

If the classification becomes final, Sec. 4-96(b) requires the owner to obtain a harboring permit within 14 days, at which point a red circular identification tag is issued that the dog must wear at all times. Sec. 00 covering damage the animal might cause, obtained before the permit issues. Sec. 4-100 further requires a locked, ten-by-ten-foot enclosure at least 20 feet from any adjoining property, and Secs. 4-101 and 4-102 require a muzzle and a leash no longer than four feet whenever the animal leaves the enclosure. An owner may appeal a final classification to the circuit court under Sec. 4-94.