Citrus County, FL Animal Ordinances: Pet Store Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Citrus County Code § 14-57
- Minimum sale age
- 8 weeks (dogs and cats)
- Illness refund window
- 14 days after sale
- Congenital defect window
- 1 year after sale
- Pet dealer threshold
- >2 litters or 20 animals/year
- Shelters exempt
- County/city shelters, registered nonprofits
Summary
Citrus County does not ban retail pet sales, but Sec. 14-57 bars selling any dog or cat under eight weeks old, requires a USDA-accredited veterinarian's health certificate with specific vaccines before sale, and gives buyers a 14-day illness refund and one-year congenital-defect warranty.
(i)A person may not transport into the county for sale or offer for sale within the county any dog or cat that is less than eight weeks of age.(j)If, within 14 days following the sale by a pet dealer of an animal subject to this section, a licensed veterinarian of the consumer's choosing certifies that, at the time of the sale, the animal was unfit for purchase due to illness or disease, the presence of symptoms of contagious or infectious disease, or the presence of internal or external parasites, excluding fleas and ticks...the pet dealer shall afford the consumer the right to choose one of the following options:(1)The right to return the animal and receive a refund of the purchase price, including the sales tax, and reimbursement for reasonable veterinary costs directly related to the veterinarian's examination and certification that the dog or cat is unfit for purchase pursuant to this section.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 76).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 14-57 regulates any dog or cat transported into Citrus County for sale or offered for sale within it. Each animal needs an official certificate of veterinary inspection from a USDA-accredited veterinarian, timed to the sale, showing required vaccines and dewormers: for dogs, distemper, leptospirosis, bordetella, parainfluenza, hepatitis, parvo, rabies (over three months), roundworms and hookworms; for cats, panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, rabies (over three months), hookworms and roundworms. Subsection (i) sets a hard floor: no dog or cat under eight weeks of age may be transported into the county for sale or offered for sale there.
Subsection (g) requires a pre-sale veterinary exam including a fecal parasite test, a heartworm test for dogs over six months, and a feline leukemia test for cats. Buyers get real remedies: subsection (j) lets a consumer, within 14 days, have their own vet certify the animal was unfit for purchase due to illness, disease or parasites, entitling them to a refund, a replacement animal of equal value, or reimbursement of reasonable veterinary costs; a one-year window covers congenital or hereditary disorders or misrepresented breed, sex or health.
Subsection (r) defines a regulated 'pet dealer' as anyone selling more than two litters or 20 dogs and cats a year, including breeders. Subsection (t) exempts county- or city-operated animal control agencies and registered nonprofit humane shelters or adoption centers from the section entirely.
Violations & Fines
Violating the health-certificate, minimum-age or consumer-guarantee provisions of Sec. 14-57 is a first-degree misdemeanor under F.S. §§ 775.082 and 775.083. The state attorney can also sue to enjoin ongoing violations of this section or of the related state pet-dealer statutes, F.S. §§ 828.12 and 828.13, independent of any criminal charge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a minimum age a pet store can sell a puppy or kitten in Citrus County?
What if a pet bought from a Citrus County dealer turns out to be sick?
Does the ordinance apply to animal rescues and shelters?
What vaccines must a dog have before being sold in the county?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Citrus County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Citrus County to another location·View the Florida animal ordinances overview
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