In unincorporated Manatee County, no dog or cat may be at large on public property, streets, sidewalks, or another's property. Owners must keep direct control of the animal at all times (Sec. 2-4-12).
Under the Manatee County Animal Ordinance (Ch. 2-4), a dog or cat is at large when it is off the owner's premises and not under physical control, or on the premises but not controlled. Direct control means immediate and continuous control by fence, leash, tether, cord, cage, or hand/voice command by a competent person on property the owner may use. Owners may not tie or tether an animal so it can reach public property or a neighbor's land without consent. The rule applies countywide; inside Bradenton, Palmetto, and the Anna Maria Island towns, the city code governs. A cat outdoors and not under direct control must be sterilized to be exempt.
Civil infraction enforced by Animal Services Officers; maximum civil penalty $500 per Sec. 2-4-25, amount set by resolution. Courtesy warning notice may issue in lieu of citation.
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 dog leash laws rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.