Jupiter, FL Animal Ordinances: Pet Store Rules (2026)

Sec. 5-14(a) makes it unlawful for any person or entity to establish, operate, or maintain a puppy or kitten mill anywhere in Jupiter. A puppy or kitten mill is defined in Sec. 5-1 as a breeding facility that meets at least two of five conditions: more than 20 puppies under 12 weeks or 20 kittens under 16 weeks kept at once, no genetic health testing appropriate to the breed, a single female bred every cycle, a single female bred more than five times, or more than eight dogs or kittens kept in a single cage or kennel area.

Separately, Sec. 5-14(b) bars a pet store from displaying, selling, trading, delivering, bartering, leasing, renting, auctioning, giving away, transferring, or otherwise disposing of a dog or cat in town, covering essentially every way a store could move an animal. Subsection (c) carves out four exemptions: a person selling a dog or cat that was bred and reared on property that person owns, so long as they aren't running a puppy mill, aren't a pet dealer under Fla. ch. 828, and the property isn't itself a pet store; an animal shelter; an animal rescue organization; and a shelter or rescue that operates out of or with a pet store.

Subsection (d) confirms a pet store can still provide space and care for shelter or rescue animals so the public can adopt them there. Enforcement under subsection (e) is broad: code enforcement and police officers can both cite violations under chapter 8, and the town may separately pursue temporary or permanent injunctive relief in court.