Brevard County, FL Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Breed bans
- Preempted statewide by Florida law
- Classification trigger
- Documented bite, attack, or menacing charge
- Liability insurance
- $100,000 minimum once dog is classified
- Scope
- Unincorporated Brevard only; cities have own codes
- Appeal
- Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Court
Summary
Brevard County does not regulate dogs by breed. Florida law bars that statewide. Instead, county code classifies individual dogs as "dangerous" based on documented bites, attacks, or menacing behavior, triggering registration, secure-enclosure, and insurance rules under Sec. 14-49.
Dangerous dog means any dog that, according to the records of the animal control authority: (1)Has aggressively bitten, attacked, or endangered or has inflicted severe injury on a human being on public or private property;(2)Has more than once severely injured or killed a domestic animal while off the owner's property; or(3)Has, when unprovoked, chased or approached a person upon the streets, sidewalks, or any public grounds in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 135).
Full Breakdown
Florida Statute § 767.14 bars any county or city from regulating dogs by breed, weight, or size, so Brevard's animal control code (Chapter 14) never lists prohibited breeds. Instead it runs a behavior-based classification system: a dog becomes legally "dangerous" under Sec. 14-36 only after a documented unprovoked bite, repeated attacks on another animal, or a menacing charge investigated by Animal Services and, if contested, a special magistrate. Once classified, Sec. 14-49 requires a locked secure enclosure, muzzle and leash off-property, spay/neuter, a posted warning sign, $100,000 liability coverage, and an annual registration certificate, regardless of breed. This applies only in unincorporated Brevard; Palm Bay, Melbourne, Cocoa, and Titusville enforce their own codes.
Violations & Fines
Failing to comply with any dangerous-dog requirement is a noncriminal infraction with a fine; a violation that poses immediate risk to the public lets Animal Services impound the dog pending compliance or a circuit court injunction under Sec. 14-49(d) and (k).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Brevard County ban pit bulls or other breeds?
What happens once a dog is classified dangerous in Brevard County?
Does this rule apply in Melbourne or Palm Bay?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Brevard County
How Brevard County compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Brevard County to another location·View the Florida animal ordinances overview
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