Bay County prohibits animals from running at large off the owner's property. Under Section 4-43, an owner must restrain any animal from being at-large, and dogs are barred from public beaches and parks. Rabies vaccination is required countywide under Florida law.
Bay County's animal code, Chapter 4, runs countywide in the unincorporated area. It defines an animal at-large as any animal off its owner's property and not under the direct control of a competent person, meaning obedient to commands, restrained by a leash or tether of appropriate length, or inside a secure enclosure. Section 4-43 makes it unlawful to let an animal run at-large and bars dogs from public beaches and parks, with exceptions for service dogs and lawful hunting. Dogs, cats, and ferrets must be rabies-vaccinated as required by Florida Statute 828.30. Panama City Beach and other cities set their own leash and beach rules, and Bay County Animal Control handles impoundment.
An animal running at-large in violation of Section 4-43 may be impounded by Bay County Animal Control and the owner cited and fined. Repeat or biting incidents can trigger dangerous-dog proceedings under Chapter 767.
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See how Bay County's dog leash laws rules stack up against other locations.
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