Fort Lauderdale's Animal Ordinances: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles animal ordinances a little differently. In Fort Lauderdale, Florida, there are 10 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.

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.

Bird Protection

Fort Lauderdale makes it a citywide offense to shoot, trap, or otherwise kill or destroy birds. Code section 6-10 carries only two exceptions: state game wardens acting officially, and licensed veterinarians or people working under a veterinarian's direct supervision. Anyone else who harms a bird within city limits, including with an air rifle or a trap, violates the section regardless of species.

Key details: Exceptions: State game wardens, licensed veterinarians only. Penalty: Up to $500 fine or 60 days jail. Applies to: Any bird species within city limits. Enacted: Ord. No. C-81-84, 1981. Related rule: Sec. 6-15 bans feeding rabies-risk wildlife.

A section 6-10 violation defaults to the citywide penalty in Code section 1-6: a fine of up to $500, imprisonment of up to 60 days, or both, with each day of a continuing violation charged as a separate offense. Fort Lauderdale police and animal control officers can issue a citation based on a witness report or physical evidence of trapping or shooting.

This is one of the stricter rules in Fort Lauderdale's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Pet Store Rules

Fort Lauderdale bans pet stores from selling dogs or cats at retail. Code section 6-36 allows stores to offer only animals sourced from a shelter, humane society or rescue organization, and requires a posted certificate of source for every adopted animal. Falsifying that certificate, or selling a dog or cat outright, is a civil infraction enforced under chapter 11.

Key details: Retail sale of dogs/cats: Banned at pet stores. Allowed source: Shelters, humane societies, rescue groups only. Certificate posting: Within 3 feet of animal's enclosure. Violation type: Civil infraction under chapter 11. Effective: Ord. No. C-17-12, June 20, 2017.

A violation of section 6-36 for which a citation is issued is a civil infraction, enforced through the citation procedures in chapter 11 of the Code rather than criminal court. Falsifying a certificate of source is treated as its own violation. Code compliance inspectors and law enforcement officers can demand certificates on the spot and cite a store that cannot produce them.

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

Exotic Pets

Fort Lauderdale bans keeping any wild or vicious animal as a pet anywhere in the city. Code section 6-13 also bars keeping such an animal for paid or free public display, with the only carve-out for zoological parks, performing-animal exhibitions and circuses. The Code defines wild animal broadly to include monkeys, raccoons, skunks, deer and big cats like tigers and lions.

Key details: Ban covers: Wild or vicious animals kept as pets. Exemptions: Zoos, performing-animal shows, circuses only. Definition includes: Monkeys, raccoons, skunks, deer, tigers, lions. Penalty: Up to $500 fine or 60 days jail. Enacted: Ord. No. C-81-84, 1981.

A section 6-13 violation defaults to the citywide penalty under Code section 1-6: a fine of up to $500, imprisonment up to 60 days, or both, with each day the animal remains on the premises treated as a separate offense. Animal control or code compliance officers can seize an unlawfully kept wild animal and refer it to the county for disposition.

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

Pet Groomer Rules

Fort Lauderdale taxes pet grooming shops under a flat $73.50 Animal Grooming Service classification in Code Sec. 15-57, and that classification bars any onsite boarding of animals. A groomer that also boards pets overnight must get the separate Pet Boarding classification instead.

Key details: Grooming tax: $73.50 flat (Sec. 15-57). Boarding: requires separate Pet Boarding classification. Boarding standards: Code Sec. 47-18.25. Veterinary clinic tax: $157.50 per licensed veterinarian. Receipt cycle: Aug. 1 sale, Sept. 30 due, annual.

Sec. 15-43(b) penalizes operating a grooming or boarding business without the required receipt at 25 percent of the tax due, in addition to the underlying tax. Sec. 15-43(a) adds a 10 percent penalty for receipts unrenewed by September 30, plus 5 percent for each further month of delinquency, capped at 25 percent of the tax, and Sec. 15-27 separately treats operating without displaying a required receipt as an offense under the article.

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 10 rules covered here, 4 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.