Fort Lauderdale's Animal Ordinances: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles animal ordinances a little differently. In Fort Lauderdale, Florida, there are 7 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Pet Limits

Fort Lauderdale sets no flat numeric limit on household dogs or cats, but Sec. 6-34 defines four or more dogs or cats over four months of age as a 'kennel,' which is unlawful unless it complies with applicable zoning and licensing provisions.

Key details: Kennel definition: 4+ dogs or cats over 4 months (Sec. 6-34). Flat household pet cap: None in city code. Cross references: Ch. 15 Licenses; Ch. 47 land development.

Operating an unpermitted kennel (four or more dogs/cats over four months) is unlawful under Sec. 6-34, enforced by code-enforcement citation and zoning/licensing action.

Exotic Pets

Florida has extensive exotic animal regulations through the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Many species require permits, and certain dangerous animals are prohibited.

Key details: Authority: Florida FWC. Class I: Prohibited (large cats, apes, bears). Class II: License required (wolves, some reptiles). Class III: Free license for smaller species.

Keeping prohibited animals results in fines and criminal charges. FWC can confiscate animals and revoke permits.

Compared to other cities, Fort Lauderdale takes a harder line on exotic pets. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Dog Leash Laws

Fort Lauderdale prohibits any animal from running at large and bans pets on the sandy public beach, parks and playgrounds, with a narrow leashed-dog beach permit window of 6:00-9:00 a.m. Broward County's countywide leash rule (Sec. 4-3) also applies.

Key details: City running-at-large code: Fort Lauderdale Code Sec. 6-2. City beach/park pet code: Fort Lauderdale Code Sec. 6-4. Beach leash permit hours: 6:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.. County leash rule: Broward County Code Sec. 4-3. Tethering limits: Fort Lauderdale Code Sec. 6-35.

Code enforcement citation for violation of Sec. 6-2 or 6-4; impoundment of animals found at large; Broward County animal-control citation under Sec. 4-3.

Breed Restrictions

Fort Lauderdale has no breed-specific dog ban. Its only dangerous-dog rule (Sec. 6-33) targets behavior, not breed, and Florida Statute 767.14 prohibits local governments from adopting any regulation specific to breed, weight or size.

Key details: State preemption: Fla. Stat. 767.14. City dangerous-dog code: Fort Lauderdale Code Sec. 6-33. Breed-specific ban: None permitted.

Allowing a vicious dog to run at large or be unenclosed without a muzzle is unlawful under Sec. 6-33; breed-based local bans are barred by Fla. Stat. 767.14.

Fort Lauderdale is more permissive than most cities when it comes to breed restrictions. That said, there are still limits.

Beekeeping

Fort Lauderdale allows beekeeping but Sec. 6-12 requires beekeepers to control the bees' flight path so it does not interfere with neighbors and to keep a year-round water supply nearer the hives than any water on adjoining property.

Key details: Beekeeping code: Fort Lauderdale Code Sec. 6-12. Flight-path duty: Must not interfere with adjoining property. Water requirement: Year-round supply nearer than neighbors' water.

Code-enforcement citation under Sec. 6-12 for failing to control bee flight paths or to provide an on-site water supply.

Chickens & Livestock

Fort Lauderdale bars keeping any animal in residential districts except common household pets, and the pet exception expressly excludes chickens, roosters and geese. Roosters are barred within 100 yards of any dwelling and livestock is effectively prohibited outside the narrow nonresidential rules.

Key details: Residential keeping code: Fort Lauderdale Code Sec. 6-5. Excluded from pet exception: Chickens, roosters, geese. Rooster setback: 100 yards from any dwelling (Sec. 6-8). Nonresidential setback: 75 feet from dwelling (Sec. 6-6).

Code-enforcement citation for unlawful keeping of animals under Sec. 6-5, 6-6 or 6-8; abatement of the prohibited fowl or livestock.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Fort Lauderdale actively enforces its chickens & livestock requirements.

Wildlife Feeding

Sec. 6-15 makes it unlawful to feed, or fail to prevent the unintentional feeding of, high-risk rabies-vector wildlife such as raccoons, bats, foxes and skunks within public rights-of-way and on city property in the defined beachside area.

Key details: Wildlife-feeding code: Fort Lauderdale Code Sec. 6-15. Targeted species: Raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks. Regulated area: Beachside zone, Intracoastal to Atlantic.

Code-enforcement citation under Sec. 6-15 for feeding or failing to prevent feeding of rabies-risk wildlife in the regulated beachside area.

The Bottom Line

Fort Lauderdale is tougher than many cities when it comes to animal ordinances. Out of the 7 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Fort Lauderdale, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

These rules come from Fort Lauderdale's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.