Animal Ordinances in Fort Myers, FL (2026)
5 verified animal ordinances for Fort Myers, Florida, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Fort Myers requires a permit to keep up to four backyard hens on single-family homestead-exempt lots; roosters, hogs, and other fowl are banned within 300 feet of any dwelling citywide.
Fort Myers Backyard Hen Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsFort Myers Code of Ordinances § 54-5
Except as permitted in subsection (b) below, the keeping of any live hog, pig, chicken, goose, turkey, guinea fowl, duck, peafowl or domestic or domesticated fowl within 300 feet of any dwelling in the city is hereby prohibited and declared a nuisance injurious to the health and welfare. ... one backyard hen per 800 square feet of total lot area, with a maximum of four backyard hens on any lot,...
Dog Leash Laws
Fort Myers has no separate leash ordinance of its own: the city adopted the Lee County Animal Control Ordinance by reference to govern dogs and other animals within city limits, enforced by the Fort Myers Police Department.
Fort Myers Dog Leash & At-Large Law
Some RestrictionsFort Myers Code of Ordinances § 14-31
(a)Lee County Code, Article III, Lee County Animal Control Ordinance, as may be amended from time to time in the future, is hereby adopted by the city for the control of animals in the city in lieu of former ordinances and is on file in the office of the city clerk.(b)The city police department will be designated the animal control enforcement agency at the discretion of the chief of police. (...
Pet Groomer Rules
Fort Myers requires a local business tax receipt for pet groomers, splits mobile grooming vehicles from fixed-location shops at $50 each, and bars kennel operations at shop-based groomers.
Fort Myers Pet Grooming License Rules
Some RestrictionsFort Myers Code of Ordinances § 82-205 (see also § 82-204 legend)
(16) Animal and/or dog grooming, mobile [(a), (d)], each vehicle 50.00 (17) Animal grooming service, with an established place of business and no vehicles are involved in the service, and no kennel operation is permitted [(a), (d)] 50.00 (18) Animal hospitals, kennels, including hospitals for horses, mules, cows, dogs, and any domestic animal. Not required if a veterinarian with a local busin...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Fort Myers allows animal hospitals and veterinary clinics only in commercial and industrial zones, and requires outdoor runs to sit 300 feet from any residential use.
Fort Myers Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Some RestrictionsFort Myers Land Development Code § 118.3.3.C.2
Animal hospital, veterinary clinic, pet clinic, animal boarding, animal shelter, kennel, doggy day care. In the CG and CI districts, no outdoor runs shall be permitted within 300 feet of a residential use or zoning district. All overnight care of animals shall occur indoors. All pens, kennels and runs shall be located within an enclosed building.
Bird Protection
Fort Myers designates the entire city a bird sanctuary, making it unlawful to trap, hunt, shoot or molest any bird or wild fowl, or rob nests.
Fort Myers Bird Sanctuary Law
Significant RestrictionsFort Myers Code of Ordinances § 14-1
(a)The entire area embraced within the corporate limits of the city is hereby designated as a bird sanctuary.(b)It shall be unlawful to trap, hunt, shoot or attempt to shoot or molest, in any manner, any bird or wild fowl, or to rob bird nests or wild fowl nests; provided, however, if starlings, ducks, or similar birds are found to be congregating in such numbers in a particular locality so tha...
Looking for Lee County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Fort Myers city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Lee County →