Animal Ordinances in Jacksonville, FL (2026)

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 656.422

(a) Chickens, also referred to herein as "Backyard hens," are allowed in conjunction with a single family dwelling ... by permit and subject to the performance standards and development criteria set forth herein. (c) Up to five chickens may be permitted on each residential lot. ... (9) No male chickens/roosters, ducks, geese, turkeys, peafowl, pheasants, quail or any other poultry or fowl may b...

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 462.302(b)

No owner or custodian of any animal shall permit the animal or fail to restrain the animal from being at-large, except a dog shall be considered exempt from these provisions if:...(3)The dog is in a City-designated or legally established private "off-leash" dog park and is under the supervision of the owner or a responsible person.

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 462.402(a)

Dangerous dog means any dog whose actions, according to the records of the appropriate authority after investigation and provided such actions are attested to in a sworn statement by at least one person, meet at least one of the following:(1)On public or private property, including the owner's property, aggressively attacks, bites or endangers a human or inflicts severe injury on a human;(2)On ...

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 462.502(a)-(b)

Except as otherwise provided in this Part, the owner of every dog, cat or ferret four months of age or older shall have it vaccinated by a veterinarian against rabies and shall obtain and maintain, on an annual basis or duration of the valid vaccination, registration with the veterinarian who administered or is responsible for the administration of the vaccination.... The owner shall obtain a C...

Jacksonville, FL Ordinance Code § 462.310

Any owner found to be in violation of any provision of this Chapter that involves an at-large dog or cat shall be assessed an additional fine of not less than the amount designated in Chapter 462, Part 18, if the dog or cat has not been spayed or neutered, and is not impounded subject to sterilization upon redemption. The owner of such dog or cat shall have the option of paying this additional ...

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 462.1501

Effective January 1, 2011, all dogs and cats four (4) months of age or older sold, transferred, exchanged, adopted, returned to their owner from a shelter, or given away shall be required to be implanted with a permanent identification device (RFID - microchip) that is registered to the legal owner of the animal.

Jacksonville Ordinance Code §§ 462.1001(a), 462.1003(a)

"Animal Dealer means any person or entity that breeds and/or offers for sale any animals to be kept as pets including, but not limited to dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, fish, ferrets, rodents, and reptiles." ... "No animal dealer or hobby breeder shall operate without a current permit for its operation that has been issued to its owner by ACPS."

Jacksonville Ordinance Code, Sec. 656.331(a)(11) (Zoning Code — Agriculture District)

Animal hospitals, veterinary clinics, animal boarding places and dog kennels located on an individual and separate lot, provided all yards, area, frontage and other requirements of the Zoning Code are met for each structure within the zoning district of which it is a part, and fur farms, provided that no structures for the housing of animals shall be located within 200 feet of a property line u...

Jacksonville Ordinance Code § 28.718(a)

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt or disturb in any manner any of the fish, water fowl, birds, reptiles or any animals whatsoever present in, belonging to or preserved in any park or other recreational facility.