Clay County, FL Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- At-large ban
- Public/private property, § 4-22(a)
- Definition
- Leash, chain, voice command, or fence, § 4-17
- Cats exempt
- Definition excludes cats from at-large
- Aggressive/dangerous dogs
- Extra restraint order duty, § 4-22(b)
- Max penalty
- $500 civil citation per § 4-30
Summary
Clay County makes it unlawful for an owner to let any animal, dogs included, run at large on public or private property, and defines 'at large' as not being on a leash, chain, under effective voice command, behind a secure fence, or otherwise confined. The ban applies countywide except for tending feral animals and organized lawful activities.
Animal at large means any animal, other than a cat, which is not under control, custody, charge or possession of the owner or their responsible person, by leash, chain, effective voice command, secure fence or other means of confinement or restraint. ... (a)Prohibition; exceptions. It is unlawful for any owner or keeper of an animal, other than the tending of feral animals, to willfully or negligently allow the animal to run at large on any public property or on any private property. Any animal under the close supervision of its owner or keeper engaged in lawful hunting, in an organized animal exhibition, field trial, competition, lawful sport or training for these activities shall not be deemed to be an animal at large.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 86).
Full Breakdown
Section 4-22(a) of the Clay County Animal Services Ordinance prohibits an owner or keeper from willfully or negligently allowing an animal to run at large on any public or private property, whether that is a neighbor's yard, a street, or a shopping center parking lot. ' A dog under close supervision while lawfully hunting, competing in an organized exhibition, field trial, or training for those activities is not treated as at large. Section 4-22(b) layers an extra restraint duty onto dogs the department head has declared aggressive or dangerous: their owners must secure, restrain, or confine them exactly as ordered, on top of the general at-large ban.
Dogs picked up running at large go to the division of animal services and, before release, may face the sterilization options set out in section 4-22(d). Because the section 4-17 definition carves cats out of the 'at large' standard entirely, the leash and confinement duty in section 4-22(a) functions in practice as a dog (and other non-cat animal) restraint rule rather than a universal pet-leash law.
Violations & Fines
Running a dog at large is enforced by animal control officers under section 4-30 as a civil infraction, punishable by a civil penalty of up to $500.00 per citation; a fourth citation within the tracked period requires a mandatory court appearance rather than a mail-in payment. Dogs caught at large may be seized and impounded, and if a dog is also aggressive or dangerous, ignoring a confinement order under section 4-22(b) adds exposure under section 4-24's seizure and penalty provisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Clay County require dogs to be on a leash?
Are cats required to be leashed in Clay County?
What happens if my dog is picked up running at large?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Clay County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Clay County to another location·View the Florida animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.