Feeding wildlife in Miami-Dade County is prohibited under FL §379 and county code. Feeding alligators is a second-degree misdemeanor. FWC enforces wildlife feeding violations. Nuisance alligators reported to 866-FWC-GATOR.
Miami-Dade County and Florida law prohibit feeding wildlife. Feeding alligators is specifically illegal under FL §379 and is a second-degree misdemeanor. Miami-Dade's proximity to the Everglades and extensive canal system means alligator encounters are common. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) enforces wildlife feeding laws. Nuisance alligators over 4 feet in length may be removed by FWC-contracted trappers via the Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP). Report nuisance alligators to 866-FWC-GATOR. Feeding wild birds and feral cats in public areas may also violate county nuisance provisions. Wildlife feeding creates public safety hazards by habituating animals to human contact.
Feeding alligators: second-degree misdemeanor, up to 60 days jail and $500 fine. Other wildlife feeding violations may carry civil penalties. FWC and county enforcement.
Miami-Dade County, FL
Miami-Dade is not a sanctuary jurisdiction. After being labeled a sanctuary 2013 to 2017, then-Mayor Carlos Gimenez ordered full ICE cooperation in January 2...
Miami-Dade County, FL
Miami-Dade cannot mandate paid sick leave or predictable scheduling for private employers. House Bill 433 (2024) preempts all local employment benefits, hour...
Miami-Dade County, FL
Miami-Dade cannot set its own minimum wage above the Florida rate. The state Constitution Article X Section 24 fixes the floor at $14.84 in 2026, rising to $...
Miami-Dade County, FL
Every business operating in unincorporated Miami-Dade needs a Local Business Tax Receipt under Chapter 8A, with rates set by classification on a county sched...
Miami-Dade County, FL
Miami-Dade's Living Wage Ordinance (Chapter 2 §2-8.9, enacted 1999 as the first U.S. county living-wage law) requires direct county service contractors and a...
Miami-Dade County, FL
Hotels and short-term rentals in Miami-Dade collect a combined 13 percent tax: 6 percent state sales tax, 4 percent Convention Development Tax, 3 percent Tou...
See how Miami-Dade County's wildlife feeding rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.