Miami Beach, FL Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopting section
- City Code Sec. 10-3(e)
- Adopted source
- Miami-Dade County Code Ch. 5, Art. II
- Effect
- County dangerous-dog rules apply in-city
- Appeal window
- 10 days to request hearing
- City fine schedule (non-adopted violations)
- $50 / $100 / $200
Summary
Miami Beach does not run its own dangerous-dog or breed program; City Code Sec. 10-3(e) adopts Article II of Miami-Dade County Code Chapter 5, "Dogs," by reference, putting the county's dangerous-dog declaration and registration rules directly in force inside the city.
(e)Article II of chapter 5 of the Code of Miami-Dade County entitled "Dogs" is recognized as being in force in the city and is adopted by reference as if fully set forth herein.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 98 | Resiliency Code (Current Land Development Regulations): Publication | Ordinance 89-2665 (Previous Land Development Regulations): Publication).
Full Breakdown
Rather than write its own dangerous-dog ordinance, Miami Beach folds the county's rules straight into city law. Sec. ' That means any dog declared dangerous, any registration, muzzle, enclosure or liability-insurance requirement, and any breed-specific provision found in the county's Article II applies on Miami Beach streets exactly as it applies in unincorporated Miami-Dade, without a separate city hearing process. The surrounding chapter 10 machinery still governs how the city processes a citation: an animal control officer or law enforcement officer issues a notice of violation under Sec.
10-1 and 10-3(a)-(d), the recipient has ten days to pay the civil fine or request an administrative hearing before a special magistrate, and failing to respond within ten days is treated as an admitted violation. Because the substantive dangerous-dog standard itself lives in the county code and not in the Miami Beach municipal code text, anyone confirming whether a specific dog qualifies as 'dangerous,' what registration paperwork is required, or what breed-related provisions apply must consult Miami-Dade County Code Chapter 5, Article II directly rather than searching for separate Miami Beach language, since none exists beyond the adoption clause.
Violations & Fines
Because Article II of the county code is adopted wholesale, its penalty structure (registration, enclosure, insurance and dangerous-dog fines) applies inside Miami Beach as county law. Miami Beach's own general animal-ordinance fine schedule in Sec. 10-2 ($50 first offense, $100 second, $200 third+) governs city-issued notices of violation outside the adopted county provisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Miami Beach have its own breed-specific ordinance?
Who enforces the dangerous-dog rules in Miami Beach?
Can I appeal a dangerous-dog citation in Miami Beach?
Where do I find the actual dangerous-dog standard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Miami Beach
How Miami Beach compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Miami Beach to another location·View the Florida animal ordinances overview
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Breed Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Miami-Dade County handle breed restrictions.