Spring Hill, FL Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Pit bulls (American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and mixes), Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds, Akitas, Cane Corsos, Mastiffs, and Chow Chows are all legal to own in Spring Hill and throughout Hernando County without breed-specific permits, insurance, muzzles, or special enclosures. Florida Statute 767.14 ('Additional local restrictions authorized') reads in operative part: 'Nothing in this act shall limit any local government from placing further restrictions or additional requirements on owners of dangerous dogs or developing procedures and criteria for the implementation of this act, provided that no such regulation is specific to breed.' That breed-neutrality requirement is binding on every county and municipality in Florida. SB 942 of 2023 (effective October 1, 2023) closed the long-running carve-out that had grandfathered Miami-Dade County's 1989 pit bull ban under the original 1990 statute, with the result that as of October 2023 no Florida local government may enforce or maintain a breed-specific dog law. Hernando County's dangerous-dog framework operates entirely under Hernando County Code Chapter 6, Article IV (Dangerous Dogs) implementing FS Ch. 767: FS 767.10 defines 'dangerous dog' (aggressive behavior causing severe injury, killing or severely injuring a domestic animal off the owner's property, or other defined conduct); FS 767.11 sets the investigation and classification procedure conducted by the local animal-control authority (HCSO Animal Services in Hernando County); FS 767.12 requires owners of dogs classified as dangerous to maintain a proper enclosure, post warning signs, microchip the dog, sterilize the dog, and carry at least $100,000 in liability insurance or a surety bond; FS 767.13 makes a subsequent attack causing severe injury a third-degree felony. Hernando County maintains a public Dangerous and Aggressive Dog Registry (administered by HCSO Animal Services at 19450 Oliver Street, Brooksville; 352-796-5062) that tracks all dogs formally classified under Sec. 6 Art. IV and FS 767. A 2023 amendment to FS 767 added enhanced penalties when an unprovoked attack by a classified dangerous dog causes death. Private restrictions (HOA covenants, condo declarations, landlord leases, homeowners-insurance carriers) often DO restrict specific breeds in Spring Hill regardless of state preemption, because FS 767.14 binds only governments, not private parties - and while many Spring Hill subdivisions are not HOA-governed, deed restrictions on individual sections and rental-property leases may still impose breed restrictions.