Highlands County, FL Animal Ordinances: Wildlife Feeding (2026)
Key Facts
- Regulated animal
- Feral cats only, Code § 4.5-5
- Who may feed
- Property owner, or written authorization on file
- Filed with
- Highlands County Animal Control
- Enforcement tool
- Trap-and-removal at the feeding site
- Feral cat hold
- 3 calendar days before disposal, § 4.5-42
Summary
Highlands County does not ban feeding wildlife generally, but Code § 4.5-5 bars anyone other than the property owner from feeding feral cats on public or private land without the owner's written permission filed with Animal Control. Animal Control investigates complaints and can trap and remove feral cats from locations where unauthorized feeding continues.
(a)No person other than the property owner shall feed feral cats on public or private property unless authorized by the property owner in writing, a copy of which has been filed with Highlands County Animal Control.(b)Highlands County Animal Control shall investigate any complaint that any person other than the property owner or a person authorized in writing by the property owner placed or caused to be placed on public or private property a food source or a container meant to hold a food source for the purpose of feeding feral cats.(c)Highlands County Animal Control shall reduce the animal populations, by trap and removal, at locations where feral cats are being fed in violation of this section, if deemed necessary for public health and safety.
Full Breakdown
5-5, which is specific to feral cats. Under subsection (a), no one except the property owner may feed feral cats on public or private property unless the property owner has authorized the feeding in writing and filed a copy of that authorization with Highlands County Animal Control. Subsection (b) directs Animal Control to investigate any complaint that someone other than the owner, or someone without the owner's written authorization, placed food or a feeding container on public or private property to feed feral cats. Subsection (c) gives Animal Control the authority to reduce the feral cat population at a location where unauthorized feeding is happening, using trap-and-removal, whenever the department decides that step is necessary for public health and safety.
5-42, a shorter window than for owned cats. Because the restriction is written around feral cats specifically, it does not reach someone putting out birdseed, deer corn, or food for other wildlife, and there is no separate Highlands County ordinance addressing feeding of deer or geese.
Violations & Fines
Feeding feral cats without the required written, filed authorization violates section 4.5-5 and is enforced by Highlands County Animal Control, with the county's general penalty in section 1-7 applying where the article states no specific fine, punishable under F.S. § 125.69. Beyond any fine, the practical consequence is that Animal Control can trap and remove the feral cats being fed at that location, and cats it impounds as feral are held only three days before they may be disposed of if unclaimed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I feed feral cats in my Highlands County neighborhood?
Does Highlands County restrict feeding deer or other wildlife?
What happens to feral cats that Animal Control traps because of unauthorized feeding?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Highlands County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Highlands County to another location·View the Florida animal ordinances overview
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