Pinellas County, FL Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

No dog or cat shall run at-large within the county, as defined under this article. Any person who possesses, harbors, keeps, or has control or custody of any dog or cat which is running at-large shall be in violation of this article, regardless of the knowledge, intent or culpability of the owner.(b)This section shall not apply to police dogs as defined in F.S. § 843.19, as may be amended, when such dogs are engaged by a law enforcement agency in an official capacity, or to any dog which is actually engaged in or being trained for the sport of hunting during a legal hunting season within authorized areas and supervised by the owner.(c)The owner of any female dog or cat in heat (estrus) which is not kept confined in a secure enclosure, such as a building, veterinary hospital, boarding kennel or closed kennel, such that the female dog or cat cannot come in contact with any male dog or cat, except when the owners of both animals intend to breed such animals, shall be deemed in violation of this article. A fenced area is not sufficient enclosure for the purpose and intent of this subsection. (Ord. No. 25-28, § 1, 12-16-25)