Citrus County, FL Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Citrus County Code § 14-45
- Registration deadline
- 14 days after final classification
- Renewal
- Annually each January
- Required ID
- Tattoo or microchip, plus current photos
- Appeal window
- 7 days to county, 10 to circuit court
- Base penalty
- Second-degree misdemeanor for noncompliance
Summary
Citrus County has no breed-specific dog ban; instead, Sec. 14-45 lets Animal Services and the Sheriff's Office classify any dog as dangerous based on its individual bite, attack or fighting history, then requires the owner to register it annually and keep it in a secure enclosure.
(a)Definitions. When used in this section, the following terms shall have the meaning indicated:(1)Dangerous dog means any dog that according to the records of animal services:a.Has aggressively bitten, attacked, or endangered or has inflicted severe injury on a human being on public or private property;b.Has more than once severely injured or killed a domestic animal while off the owner's property;c.Has been used primarily or in part for the purpose of dog fighting or is a dog trained for dog fighting; ord.Has, when unprovoked, chased or approached a person upon the streets, sidewalks, or any other public or private property that the person had a legal right to be on, in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack, provided that such actions are attested to in a sworn statement by one or more persons and dutifully investigated by the appropriate authority.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 76).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 14-45(a)(1) defines a dangerous dog entirely by conduct in animal services' records, never by breed: a dog that has aggressively bitten, attacked, endangered or severely injured a human; that has more than once severely injured or killed another domestic animal off the owner's property; that has been used for dog fighting; or that has unprovoked chased or menacingly approached someone with lawful access to the property, attested by sworn statement. The animal control authority investigates, may confiscate or quarantine the dog pending the outcome, and must give the owner notice and a hearing opportunity before finalizing a classification, with an appeal to the county administrator's office within seven days and, after that, to circuit court within ten business days.
Once classified, subsection (d) gives the owner 14 days to obtain an annual certificate of registration, supply two current photographs, prove current rabies vaccination, build a securely fenced or enclosed area posted with a warning sign, permanently identify the dog with a tattoo or microchip, and sterilize it at the owner's expense if it is not already fixed. Subsection (e) exempts hunting dogs while actually hunting or training and dogs used by law enforcement. Sec. 14-63 and 14-64 confine this article, and its enforcement by the Sheriff's Office and Animal Services, to unincorporated Citrus County; Crystal River and Inverness enforce their own codes.
Violations & Fines
Failing to keep any dangerous dog requirement, license, tag, secure enclosure, permanent ID or sterilization, or failing to report a bite, sale or address change, is a second-degree misdemeanor under F.S. §§ 775.082 and 775.083, and the dog is confiscated, quarantined and destroyed ten business days after written notice unless a hearing is requested. A subsequent unprovoked attack raises the owner's exposure to a first-degree misdemeanor, or a third-degree felony if the dog previously classified dangerous causes severe injury or death.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Citrus County ban specific dog breeds like pit bulls?
What must an owner do once a dog is declared dangerous?
Can a dangerous dog be destroyed?
How does an owner appeal a dangerous dog classification?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Citrus County
How Citrus County compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Citrus County to another location·View the Florida animal ordinances overview
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