Clearwater, FL Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code Sec. 8.33
- Covers
- Dogs, cows, horses, other domestic pets
- Tethering on public property
- Only temporary, or impoundable
- Beach access
- Dogs and other pets banned, Sec. 8.35
- Last amended
- Ord. No. 9489-21, Oct. 7, 2021
Summary
Clearwater bans letting a dog, horse, cow or other pet wander on public streets or someone else's property, and prohibits leaving one tied up unattended on public streets, parks or parkways except temporarily. Sec. 8.33 authorizes impoundment of any animal found wandering or improperly secured.
It shall be unlawful for any person who owns, harbors, keeps or maintains any horse, chicken, cow or other domestic animal or pet including dogs to permit such animal to wander on the public streets or on the property of another. Such animals shall not be secured except temporarily on the public streets, parks, property of another or parkways of the city, and any such horse, cow and other animal or pet including dogs found to be wandering at large out of presence of the owner, or tied or secured on the public streets or parkways of the city except temporarily shall be impounded.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 33, "Running at large; securing on public property or property of another," makes it unlawful for any owner, harborer, keeper or maintainer of a horse, chicken, cow or other domestic animal or pet, including dogs, to permit that animal to wander on public streets or on another person's property. " This section was updated by Ord. No. 9489-21 in October 2021. It works alongside Sec. 34, which separately bars allowing an animal under leash or other control to trespass on another's property, and Sec.
35, which bans dogs, cats or other domestic animals on any public bathing beach in the city. Sec. 36 layers on a pooper-scooper duty: an owner who knows or has reason to believe a dog defecated on public or private property must immediately retrieve and sanitarily dispose of the waste, with an exception for defecation on the owner's or custodian's own property, and a separate ban on letting excrement accumulate on private property so as to create a health hazard or nuisance.
Violations & Fines
Violating Sec. 8.33's at-large or improper-securing rule is a code violation carrying a civil fine of up to $500 under Sec. 1.12, and any animal found wandering or left tied beyond a temporary period is subject to impoundment by police or the SPCA of Clearwater under the chapter's enforcement authority in Sec. 8.02.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my dog be off-leash in a Clearwater park?
Can I take my dog to Clearwater Beach?
Do I have to pick up after my dog?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Clearwater
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Clearwater to another location·View the Florida animal ordinances overview
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Dog Leash Laws in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Pinellas County handle dog leash laws.