Animal Ordinances in Cape Coral, FL (2026)
6 verified animal ordinances for Cape Coral, Florida, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Cape Coral bans keeping livestock and poultry citywide under Code § 4-32, except on Residential Estate lots carrying the Low Density Residential II future land use classification. Land Development Code § 4.2.4.B lets those RE lots keep cattle, mules, goats, sheep, swine and poultry on a minimum 100,000-square-foot lot, with a 100-foot animal-roaming setback and a 150-foot setback for shelters from other zoning districts.
Cape Coral Backyard Livestock & Poultry Rules
Significant RestrictionsCape Coral Land Development Code § 4.2.4.B
3.Horses. The keeping of horses, including foals and yearlings, is permitted in the Residential Estate zoning district regardless of the Future Land Use Map classification. Any roofed structure for shelter of such animals shall be setback at least 100 feet from any property line.4.Cattle, mules, goats, sheep, swine, and poultry. The keeping, raising, and breeding of non-domestic animals, includ...
Beekeeping
FL §586.10 preempts local bans on beekeeping. Cape Coral cannot prohibit beekeeping. FDACS annual hive registration required. HOAs may still restrict beekeeping in their communities.
Cape Coral Beekeeping & Apiary Regulations
Few RestrictionsFla. Stat. § 586.10 (Florida Honey Bee Act — State Preemption of Local Honeybee Ordinances)
586.10 Powers and duties of department; preemption of local government ordinances. — (1) The authority to regulate, inspect, and permit managed honeybee colonies and to adopt rules on the placement and location of registered inspected managed honeybee colonies is preempted to the state through the department and supersedes any related ordinance adopted by a county, municipality, or political su...
Exotic Pets
Cape Coral Code § 4-32 bans keeping, raising or maintaining any wild or exotic animal anywhere in the city, improved or unimproved. Monkeys, raccoons, skunks, foxes, venomous or constricting snakes, and big cats such as lions, tigers, leopards and panthers all fall under the code's "wild animal" definition and are barred as pets citywide, unless the animal is already regulated by the state wildlife agency.
Cape Coral Wild & Exotic Animal Ban
Heavy RestrictionsCape Coral Code of Ordinances § 4-32
(a)Except as allowed in this section, it shall be unlawful for any person to keep, raise, maintain, or pasture any animal that does not fit under the definition of a domestic animal including, but not limited to, cattle, mules, goats, sheep, swine, poultry, other livestock, exotic, or wild animals in all zoning districts, whether improved or unimproved. ... (e)Wild or exotic animals that are re...
Pet Store Rules
Cape Coral bans pet stores from selling, trading, or giving away dogs and cats to fight puppy mills and kitten factories. Stores may only host adoption events for animal shelters and rescues, must post the rescue's name on each cage, and face a $250 first-offense fine under § 12-128.
Cape Coral Retail Pet Store Dog & Cat Sale Ban
Heavy RestrictionsCape Coral Code of Ordinances § 12-128
(a)Purpose and intent. The purpose and intent of this section is to discourage the retail sale of commercially bred dogs and cats from puppy mills and kitten factories... It is further the intent of this section to require an adoption-based business model for the retail sale of dogs and cats at pet stores, whereby all dogs and cats shall be sourced from stray or unwanted pets that have been tak...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Cape Coral treats veterinary offices as an exempt "animal care business" under City Code Section 4-32(c), letting them keep animals that would otherwise violate the citywide non-domestic-animal ban, so long as the clinic is a permitted or special exception use in its zoning district. The Land Development Code's Table 4.1.6 lists veterinary services under "Pet Services," permitted by right only in a handful of commercial-type districts.
Cape Coral Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsCape Coral Code of Ordinances § 4-32(c)
The provisions of this section shall not apply to animal care businesses including, but not limited to, veterinary offices, animal kennels, animal grooming businesses, and pet shops that are listed as a permitted or special exception use in a particular zoning district nor to educational, cultural or scientific uses where the keeping of animals are incidental and secondary to the main purpose o...
Bird Protection
Cape Coral's Chapter 23 protects bald eagle nests by creating an Eagle Nest Management Zone around every active nest, tracked against the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's annual nesting survey. Construction and land clearing within that zone need city and Commission review, the city can block development within 350 feet of an active nest outright, and no one may approach within 150 feet of an occupied nest tree during nesting season.
Cape Coral Bald Eagle Nest Protection Rules
Significant RestrictionsCape Coral Code of Ordinances § 23-8(a)
(a)Any person convicted of violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $500 or by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed 60 days, or by both the fine and imprisonment. That person shall also pay all costs and expenses incurred by the city in instituting or having such an action instituted. Each day the violation continues shall b...
Looking for Lee County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Cape Coral city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Lee County →