Palm Beach Gardens, FL Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Section 14-33, enacted by Ordinance No. 11, 2014 on July 10, 2014, rewrote the city's former dogs-and-cats article and set the current eight-foot maximum leash length for any dog on a public street, road, or right-of-way in Palm Beach Gardens; Section 14-31 defines 'running at large' the same way for consistency across the article. The leash rule works alongside Section 14-1(c), which requires any dog or household pet kept outdoors anywhere in the city to be on a leash or otherwise confined by a fence, wall, or portable kennel, so an unleashed dog can violate both sections depending on where it is found.

Section 14-33(c) separately bars a dog or cat from entering church premises, public halls, parks, schools, restaurants, or any place food is commercially served, except as allowed by Article III's Dog-Friendly Dining Program. Any officer or the city's dog warden who finds a dog running at large has authority under Section 14-34 to impound the animal, and Section 14-35 lets the owner reclaim it for a $10.00 redemption fee plus costs within two business days, after which the city may sell or dispose of it.

Enforcement escalates faster here than in most Chapter 14 sections: Section 14-35(b) directs a warning citation for a first Section 14-33(a) offense but requires arrest for every violation after that.