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

Putnam County Code Section 6-19 defines "animal at large" as any animal, other than a cat, that is not under the owner's control, custody, charge or possession by leash, chain, secure fence or other confinement while on property the owner does not own or lease. Section 6-29(a) makes it unlawful for an owner or keeper to willfully or negligently allow an animal other than a cat to run at large on public or private property in unincorporated Putnam County. The rule exempts animals under close supervision engaged in lawful hunting, an organized exhibition, field trial, competition or training for those activities.

An animal control officer may also excuse a dog from the leash requirement if the dog reliably obeys effective voice command, meaning the handler's voice control at all times prevents the dog from running loose. Cats are generally exempt from the at-large prohibition, except a diseased cat may not be allowed to roam. Enforcement runs through the county's animal control department, housed under Planning and Development Services, and the Sheriff's Office; officers who witness a violation or receive a sworn complaint may issue a warning, impound the animal, or refer the owner to the special magistrate under Section 6-40.

Section 6-42 sets the general penalty for Article II animal-control violations: a civil infraction with a maximum fine of $500 per day, capped at $250 per day for a first offense and $500 per day for a repeat offense, with each day a separate violation and appeal rights to county court under F.S. § 162.11.