Manatee County has no breed-specific ban. Dangerous dogs are regulated by conduct under Florida Chapter 767, adopted into county code (Sec. 2-4-10). Florida law (FS 767.14) bars counties from banning dogs by breed.
Manatee County does not maintain a breed-specific ordinance; no breed such as pit bull is prohibited. Instead, Sec. 2-4-10 adopts Chapter 767, Florida Statutes, on dangerous dogs in its entirety, regulating dogs by behavior rather than breed. A dog becomes classified as dangerous under state law after unprovoked attacks, severe bites, or menacing chases. FS 767.14 expressly lets local governments regulate dangerous dogs but bars any regulation that is specific to a dog's breed. So any breed of dog can be kept, but an individual dog that bites or attacks unprovoked can be declared dangerous and subject to confinement, insurance, and registration requirements.
Violation of the dangerous-dog provisions is a violation of the ordinance; each day of noncompliance is a separate offense. State-law criminal penalties under FS 767 also apply for attacks.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Manatee County, FL
Backyard composting is allowed and encouraged in Manatee County for residents' own yard and food waste. No county permit is needed. Piles must be maintained ...
Manatee County, FL
Manatee County has no countywide ban on residential artificial turf; the Land Development Code governs landscaping in development. Synthetic turf typically c...
Manatee County, FL
Manatee County's Land Development Code (Chapter 7) requires native and drought-tolerant plantings in development landscaping. Florida law (FS 373.185) also p...
Manatee County, FL
Rain barrels and cisterns for landscape irrigation are legal and encouraged in Manatee County; SWFWMD and county utilities promote them for conservation. No ...
Manatee County, FL
Manatee County follows Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) restrictions. Under the current Modified Phase III shortage, lawn watering is lim...
Manatee County, FL
Weeds, grass, and undergrowth over 16 inches are a nuisance in unincorporated Manatee County under the Community Improvement / abandoned property provisions....
See how Manatee County's breed restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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