Lauderhill, FL Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Lauderhill does not regulate dogs by breed; instead, Section 4-15(c) of the Code of Ordinances defines a 'dangerous dog' by conduct recorded with the animal control authority, including a dog that has aggressively bitten, attacked or severely injured a person or domestic animal, one used for dog fighting or trained to fight, or one that has chased or approached a person in a menacing fashion when unprovoked. The definition excludes a dog that responded to a trespasser or to abuse of its owner, a law-enforcement canine, a dog defending its own puppies under eight weeks old, and puppies themselves under eight weeks.

Section 4-21 sets the process for classifying a dog as dangerous after a bite: the animal control authority issues written notice of a sufficient-cause finding, the owner may request a hearing before the city manager within seven calendar days, and if no hearing is timely requested the classification becomes final, triggering a registration requirement under Section 4-28.1 within three days and a right to appeal to the county court within ten business days. Once classified, Section 4-23(a) makes it unlawful for the owner to let the dangerous dog run at large or leave its enclosure without being properly muzzled, and Section 4-23(b) lets the county court order the dog surrendered to Broward County's Animal Control Division if it cannot be apprehended while at large.