Martin County, FL Animal Ordinances: Pet Store Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Species covered
- Dogs, cats, rabbits
- Grandfather cutoff
- June 30, 2022
- Grandfathered store size cap
- 3,000 sq ft max
- Adoption events
- Allowed, no fee or ownership
- Citation
- Sec. 9.87.A.19, Martin County Code
Summary
Martin County pet stores can't sell dogs, cats, or rabbits off the shelf: only pre-existing, grandfathered stores may still sell dogs and cats.
No pet stores shall offer for sale or sell out of its store, any rabbits, dogs or cats. This subsection shall not prohibit any pet store from collaborating with animal shelters or private nonprofit organizations...to offer space for such entities to showcase adoptable rabbits, dogs and cats provided the pet store shall not have any ownership interest in the animals offered for adoption and shall not receive a fee for providing space for the adoption of these animals.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 62 | Land Development Regulations: Supplement 62).
Full Breakdown
Under Sec. 9.87.A.19.a, no pet store in Martin County may offer for sale or sell rabbits, dogs, or cats out of its store. Stores may still host adoption events for shelters or nonprofits, but only if they hold no ownership interest in the animals and take no fee for the space. A narrow grandfather clause lets stores already selling dogs or cats as of June 30, 2022 keep doing so if they hold a Business Tax Receipt and lease from that date, cap store size at 3,000 square feet, and avoid opening new locations that sell dogs or cats.
Violations & Fines
Violations are handled as code enforcement matters under Chapter 9, with fines set by Board of County Commissioners resolution; losing grandfathered status (e.g., closing 12+ consecutive months) permanently ends a store's ability to sell dogs or cats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Martin County pet store sell puppies?
Can a pet store host an adoption event instead?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Martin County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Martin County to another location·View the Florida animal ordinances overview
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