Safety Harbor, FL Animal Ordinances: Chickens & Livestock (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum lot size
- 1.25 acres for regulated livestock
- Covered animals
- Cattle, horses, sheep, goats, swine, poultry
- Pig exception
- 1 pot-bellied pig, under 100 lbs
- Chicken exception
- Up to 4 hens, no roosters
- Max penalty
- $500 fine or 60 days jail
Summary
Safety Harbor bars keeping cattle, horses, sheep, goats, swine, or poultry on any residential parcel under one and a quarter acres, with a narrow carve-out for a single pot-bellied pig or a small backyard chicken flock.
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or maintain any animal of a bovine or equine species, as well as sheep, goats, swine, fowl or poultry on a parcel of land having an area of less than one and one-quarter (1¼) acres, except as provided for in the land development code and except as otherwise provided in this section.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 65 | Land Development Code: Supplement 20).
Full Breakdown
City Code Sec. 4.02(a) makes it unlawful to keep or maintain any bovine or equine animal, plus sheep, goats, swine, fowl, or poultry, on a parcel smaller than one and one-quarter acres. The only exceptions are miniature Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs kept as pets (one per residence, under 100 pounds, neutered males, leashed or enclosed) and up to four hens kept as pets under Sec. 4.02(c): roosters and slaughter are banned either way. There is no exemption for cattle, horses, sheep, goats, or standard-size swine below the acreage threshold.
Violations & Fines
No specific penalty is listed, so Sec. 1.12's general penalty applies: up to a $500 fine and/or 60 days imprisonment, with each day of continued violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep a horse or goat on a normal residential lot in Safety Harbor?
Does the acreage rule apply to pet chickens?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Safety Harbor
How Safety Harbor compares: Best Cities for Backyard Chickens·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Safety Harbor to another location·View the Florida animal ordinances overview
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