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

Adopted by Ord. No. 2014-18 in 2014 as Article III of Chapter 4, Tamarac's ordinance defines a pet store, under § 4-34, as any retail establishment open to the public that sells or transfers dogs or cats, including puppies and kittens, of any age. Section 4-35 separately makes it unlawful to establish, operate, or maintain a puppy or kitten mill in the city, defined as a breeding operation meeting at least two of seven listed conditions, such as keeping more than 20 puppies under 12 weeks or 20 kittens under 16 weeks at once, breeding a single female every cycle or more than five times, or keeping more than eight dogs or kittens in one enclosure.

Section 4-36 then bars any pet store from displaying, selling, trading, delivering, bartering, leasing, renting, auctioning, giving away, transferring, or otherwise disposing of a dog or cat in Tamarac, an adoption-only rule that pushes retail pet stores toward partnering with shelters or rescues instead of selling animals from breeders. Section 4-37 exempts hobby breeders (no more than one litter per adult animal per year), animal shelters, animal rescue organizations, any shelter or rescue operating out of a pet store, and a Tamarac property owner selling animals bred and reared on their own non-retail, properly zoned land.

Any pet store that does sell dogs or cats under an exemption must post a certificate of source within three feet of each animal's enclosure under § 4-38 and give a copy to the buyer. Violations are punished under § 2-73.08's code enforcement procedures per § 4-39, and the city may also sue in civil court to enjoin a violation.