Fort Lauderdale, FL Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Kennel definition
- 4+ dogs or cats over 4 months (Sec. 6-34)
- Flat household pet cap
- None in city code
- Cross references
- Ch. 15 Licenses; Ch. 47 land development
Summary
Fort Lauderdale sets no flat numeric limit on household dogs or cats, but Sec. 6-34 defines four or more dogs or cats over four months of age as a 'kennel,' which is unlawful unless it complies with applicable zoning and licensing provisions.
It shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, maintain or permit to be kept or maintained or permit on the premises a kennel, unless such kennel is maintained in compliance with applicable zoning and licensing provisions of this Code. For the purpose of this section, a kennel is defined as any place or premises where four (4) or more dogs or cats over four (4) months of age are kept.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 67 Update 1 | Unified Land Development Code: Supplement 58 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 6-34 makes it unlawful to keep or maintain a kennel unless it meets the city's zoning and licensing provisions, and defines a kennel as any place where four (4) or more dogs or cats over four (4) months of age are kept. In practice this means keeping four or more such animals at a residence triggers kennel regulation. There is no separate per-household cap on pets in Chapter 6; Broward County Code Chapter 4 likewise sets registration and welfare rules rather than a countywide numeric pet limit.
Violations & Fines
Operating an unpermitted kennel (four or more dogs/cats over four months) is unlawful under Sec. 6-34, enforced by code-enforcement citation and zoning/licensing action.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs or cats can I keep in Fort Lauderdale?
Do I need a kennel permit for three dogs?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Lauderdale
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Fort Lauderdale to another location·View the Florida animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Pet Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Broward County handle pet limits.