Breed-specific dog bans are prohibited in Florida. Section 767.14 lets local governments regulate dangerous dogs but bars any rule specific to breed, weight, or size. A 2023 amendment ended the last grandfathered ban, so Charlotte County cannot outlaw any breed.
Florida expressly preempts breed-specific legislation, so Charlotte County cannot ban or restrict pit bulls or any other breed. Section 767.14 lets the county place further restrictions on owners of dogs that have bitten or attacked, provided no regulation is specific to breed, weight, or size, and a 2023 amendment removed the exception that had let Miami-Dade's pre-2019 pit bull ban survive. Regulation is behavior-based under the Dangerous Dog Act, sections 767.11 and 767.12: a dog is declared dangerous only after conduct such as an unprovoked attack causing severe injury, and its owner then faces confinement, secure enclosure, muzzling, registration, and liability duties. Landlords, HOAs, and insurers may still restrict breeds by contract.
A breed-specific local ordinance is preempted and unenforceable under section 767.14. A dog is restricted only through an individual dangerous-dog classification based on its own conduct, which carries confinement, muzzling, and registration requirements.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Charlotte County, FL
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Charlotte County, FL
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Charlotte County, FL
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Charlotte County, FL
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Charlotte County, FL
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Charlotte County, FL
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See how Port Charlotte's breed restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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