Pasco County, FL Animal Ordinances: Pet Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential limit
- Up to 3 dogs and/or 3 cats; total not to exceed 6
- Applicable lot size
- 5,000 sq ft up to 22,000 sq ft, single-family
- Kennel threshold
- 4+ dogs or cats moves use toward kennel
- Large kennel defined
- 10+ dogs/cats in aggregate (Sec. 14-27)
- Authority
- Land Development Code supplemental regulations
Summary
On a typical Pasco County single-family residential lot (5,000 sq ft up to 22,000 sq ft), the Land Development Code allows the keeping of no more than three dogs and/or three cats, with the total number of those animals not to exceed six; keeping four or more dogs or cats generally moves the use into the kennel category.
The Land Development Code permits, on single-family residential lots of at least 5,000 but less than 22,000 square feet, the keeping of dogs, cats, rabbits, and chicken hens, provided the number does not exceed three dogs and/or three cats, with the total number of animals not to exceed six. Chapter 14 defines a 'large kennel' as any person or entity who owns, harbors, or keeps 10 or more dogs or cats, in aggregate, at a property or structure, for any purpose.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 94 Update 1 | Land Development Code: Supplement 20).
Full Breakdown
Pasco County does not set a flat household pet number in Chapter 14 of the Code of Ordinances; instead, the maximum number of companion animals is governed by the Land Development Code's supplemental zoning regulations tied to lot size and zoning district. For single-family residential lots between 5,000 and 22,000 square feet, the keeping of dogs, cats, rabbits, and chicken hens is permitted provided the number does not exceed three dogs and/or three cats (and, under the backyard-chicken rules, up to a handful of hens), with the combined total limited so as not to exceed six animals.
Above these thresholds, or where four or more dogs or four or more cats are kept, the use is treated as a kennel/large operation rather than ordinary residential animal-keeping. Chapter 14 separately defines a 'large kennel' (Sec. 14-27) as any person or entity that owns, harbors, or keeps ten or more dogs or cats in aggregate at a property, which triggers permit requirements under Sec. 14-105. Larger parcels in agricultural zoning (AC-1, A-R) allow substantially more animals subject to the grazing-density limits in the Land Development Code.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the residential animal limits is a Land Development Code zoning violation enforced by Pasco County Code Compliance; keeping animals at kennel-level numbers without the required permit can also violate Chapter 14 Sec. 14-105, a civil infraction subject to penalties of up to $500.00 per offense under Sec. 14-33, with each day a continuing violation persists treated as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many dogs and cats can I keep at my Pasco County home?
What if I want more than three dogs?
Do larger or agricultural properties allow more animals?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pasco County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Pasco County to another location·View the Florida animal ordinances overview
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