Wellington, FL Animal Ordinances: Exotic Pets (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum lot size
- Five acres for a wildlife sanctuary use
- Standard cage setback
- 50 feet from any property line
- Dangerous/Class I animal setback
- 100 feet, screened from view
- Permit required
- Conditional use approval for Class I animals
- Governing section
- LDR § 6.2.2.F.6
Summary
Wellington's Land Development Regulations don't let anyone keep a dangerous or Class I wild animal casually: any wildlife sanctuary use needs a minimum five-acre lot, and cages holding dangerous or Class I animals must sit at least 100 feet from every property line and stay screened from view. Housing Class I animals also requires a conditional use approval from the village.
6.Wildlife sanctuary:a.Minimum lot size shall be five acres.b.Pens, cages, or structures associated with the animal care use shall be setback a minimum of 50 feet from any property line. Pens, cages, or structures containing dangerous animals or Class I animals as defined by the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission shall be setback 100 feet from any property and shall be screened from view.c.All pens, cages, and outdoor structures shall provide a chain-link material on the walls and the top. If necessary to protect the general public, safety fences of up to a height of 12-feet shall be required on outdoor runs.d.Housing of Class I animals shall be subject to a conditional use approval.
Full Breakdown
LDR § 6.2.2.F.6 sets Wellington's zoning standards for a wildlife sanctuary use, the village's specific answer to keeping dangerous or exotic wildlife. The minimum lot size for the use is five acres. General pens, cages or structures tied to the animal care use need at least a 50-foot setback from any property line, but that jumps to 100 feet, plus mandatory screening from view, for any pen, cage or structure that houses a dangerous animal or a Class I animal as defined by the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission.
Every pen, cage and outdoor structure must be enclosed in chain-link on the walls and top, and the village can require a safety fence up to 12 feet high around outdoor runs when needed to protect the public. Housing Class I animals is never a by-right use in Wellington: it requires a conditional use approval, meaning Village Council review and a public hearing rather than an over-the-counter permit. A separate agricultural provision for the Equestrian Overlay Zoning District, LDR § 6.8.9.D, applies the same conditional-use and setback logic to exotic or Class I animals kept for commercial breeding, requiring a five-acre minimum lot and a 50-foot cage setback there as well.
Violations & Fines
Keeping dangerous or Class I animals without the required conditional use approval, acreage or setbacks is a Land Development Regulations violation. Wellington's Planning, Zoning and Building Department, including code compliance, can issue a cease-and-desist order under LDR § 1.7.3, with contested cases referred to a special magistrate under LDR § 1.7.1, applying Florida Statutes chapter 162 alongside Chapter 2 of the Code of Ordinances. Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control handles animal welfare complaints separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep a dangerous exotic animal on my property in Wellington?
What counts as a Class I animal under Wellington's rule?
Does the Equestrian Overlay District have its own exotic animal rule?
Who enforces the exotic animal caging rules in Wellington?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wellington
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Wellington to another location·View the Florida animal ordinances overview
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Exotic Pets in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Palm Beach County handle exotic pets.