Flagler County, FL Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)

The Flagler County Land Development Code treats wild-animal keeping as a zoning question rather than a blanket prohibition. 16 of Article III, a 'noncommon household pet and wild animal sanctuary/shelter facility' is a permitted special exception in the AC Agriculture district only; it cannot be sited in any residential, commercial or other zoning classification. Before operating, the applicant must obtain any required Class I, II or III captive-wildlife permit under Florida Administrative Code Chapter 68A-6 and file a copy with the county as a condition of approval.

The facility must sit on at least five acres, growing by one additional acre for every five animals beyond twenty-five kept outdoors, and every structure housing animals must sit back at least 100 feet from any property line. Outdoor containment areas must be fenced, walled or caged, chaining is barred except briefly for cleaning, and the operator needs a written emergency plan covering escapes, disease and hurricane evacuation. A veterinarian of record within 100 miles must certify animal care annually to the growth management department, animals generally must be sterilized unless the planning and development board waives that for an authorized breeding program, and anyone convicted of animal cruelty or neglect is barred from applying or operating.

The county runs semiannual inspections using a code enforcement officer and a sheriff's deputy, judged against Humane Society of the United States standards for common pets and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission standards for wild animals. None of this applies inside Palm Coast, Flagler Beach, Beverly Beach, Marineland or Bunnell, which regulate animal keeping under their own municipal codes.