Animal Ordinances in Miami, FL (2026)
10 verified animal ordinances for Miami, Florida, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Miami allows up to 15 hens and 30 growing chicks per property with a county health permit, but bans roosters entirely and requires pens sit at least 100 feet from any dwelling.
Miami Backyard Chicken Rules: 15 Hens, No Roosters
Some RestrictionsMiami City Code § 6-1 (Code 1967, § 5-1; Code 1980, § 6-1)
(1)No live poultry, fowl or grazing animals shall be kept, harbored, bred or maintained unless the person owning or leasing or occupying the premises...secures, possesses and maintains a permit from the county health unit, authorizing the use of the premises for such purpose.(2)In no event shall the owner or lessee or occupant of any premises keep, harbor, breed or maintain at any one time more...
Dog Leash Laws
Miami's general at-large ordinance (Sec. 6-2) explicitly exempts dogs and cats, so the city has no citywide leash mandate for streets or sidewalks. The only leash requirement in the municipal code is Sec. 38-57, covering public parks.
Miami City Parks Require Dogs Leashed
Light RestrictionsMiami Code of Ordinances § 38-57
Subject to the following exceptions, no person having the control or care of a domestic animal shall cause or permit such animal to enter or remain in a public park. ... The above prohibition shall not apply to a dog if:(1)The dog is only allowed within such areas as have been designated or approved by the department of parks and recreation; or(2)The dog is kept securely fastened to a leash str...
Wildlife Feeding
Miami prohibits vessel owners and guests from feeding or leaving food for wildlife, including birds and manatees, at the city's mooring facilities and marinas.
Miami Bans Feeding Wildlife at City Moorings
Some RestrictionsMiami Code of Ordinances § 50-437
Harassment of protected species is illegal and will not be tolerated. It is prohibited for any vessel owner or guest to feed or leave food for wildlife, particularly birds or endangered species.
Pet Limits
Keeping more than four dogs on a small residential lot in Miami (six on one-to-two acres, eight on two-plus acres) reclassifies the property as a kennel, triggering city maintenance and nuisance rules under City Code § 6-36 and § 6-37.
Miami Dog Kennel Threshold: 4, 6, or 8 Dogs
Some RestrictionsMiami Code of Ordinances § 6-36 (Kennel definition)
(2)The keeping of dogs six months of age or older on premises used for residential purposes in excess of:a.Four dogs on property that is less than one acre in gross area or in any individual residence unit in a transect zone that allows multifamily uses;b.Six dogs on property that is at least one acre but less than two acres in gross area; andc.Eight dogs on property that is two acres or more i...
Cat Rules
Miami-Dade County Code Chapter 5 controls all cats inside Miami city limits, requiring rabies vaccination, county license tag, and prohibiting cats from running at large. Trap-Neuter-Return colonies must be registered with Animal Services to receive enforcement protection.
Miami-Dade Cat Licensing and Roaming Rules
Some RestrictionsMiami-Dade Animal Services — Licenses, Tags, and Regulations
Cat License: You can buy a license for your cat at the Pet Adoption and Protection Center or at any of the 311 Service Centers. ... Dog License (Tag): You can buy or renew a dog license at your local veterinarian's office, the Pet Adoption and Protection Center or any one of the 311 Service Centers. Dog Licenses are required for all dogs over four months of age. ... Leash Law: When a dog goes o...
Microchipping
Miami-Dade County Code Chapter 5 requires every dog or cat adopted from, or reclaimed by, county Animal Services to be microchipped before release. Miami residents follow this county rule. Microchip registration must list the current owner address and phone.
Miami-Dade Microchip Required on Adoption and Reclaim
Some RestrictionsMiami-Dade Animal Services — Adoption sterilization/microchip requirements and License Tag/Microchip Registry
All pets adopted from Miami-Dade Animal Services undergo basic vetting and include sterilization, vaccinations and microchip. ... License Tag or Microchip Registry: Quickly access crucial details about your pet's identification with our License Tag/Microchip look up service. ... Dog License: License tags are required for all dogs. Tags must be renewed one year from the last date of purchase. It...
Pet Store Rules
Miami pet stores cannot sell dogs or cats at retail unless exempt as a shelter, rescue partner, or hobby breeder outlet: the city's 2017 puppy-mill ordinance pushes retail sales toward adoption instead of commercial breeding chains.
Miami Bans Pet Store Retail Sales of Dogs, Cats
Significant RestrictionsMiami Code of Ordinances § 6-46(a)
(a)No pet store shall offer for retail sale any dogs or cats in the city on or after the effective date of this section unless the pet store is exempt pursuant to subsection 6-46(b).
Pet Groomer Rules
Pet grooming and styling salons operating in Miami must obtain an annual Local Business Tax Receipt before opening, at a flat fee of $99.00 under the city's BTR fee schedule.
Miami Pet Groomers Need $99 Business Tax Receipt
Some RestrictionsMiami Code of Ordinances §§ 31-26, 31-50
As a condition precedent to engaging in or operating in the city any business, profession or occupation referred to expressly or otherwise in section 31-50 herein, whether as owner, agent, employee, manager or operator, a BTR shall be procured from the city as provided in this article, on or before October 1 of each year. ... 2860 Pet grooming or styling salon. 99.00
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Miami 21 splits veterinary uses in two: an Animal Clinic with light overnight care is a Commercial use, while any Animal Kennel boarding eight or more animals is classified Industrial and confined to industrial-designated Transect Zones.
Miami Zoning for Vet Clinics and Kennels
Some RestrictionsMiami 21 Zoning Code, Art. 1, § 1.2 (Definitions of Terms) — "Animal Clinic" and "Animal Kennel"
Animal Clinic: A facility which provides medical and surgical care for sick animals, including overnight boarding, and may include overnight boarding for seven (7) or less healthy animals, all within a completely enclosed building. See Section 1.1 (Commercial, General Commercial). Animal Kennel: A facility which provides boarding services for eight (8) or more animals. See Section 1.1 (Indus...
Bird Protection
Miami declares itself a bird sanctuary and makes it unlawful to shoot, trap, or kill any bird within city limits, with a narrow exception for city-run peafowl relocation.
Miami Bans Shooting or Trapping Birds
Heavy RestrictionsMiami Code of Ordinances § 6-4(a)
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person to shoot, trap, or in any manner kill or destroy birds within the city, except as provided in subsection 6-4(b).(b)Nothing in this section shall prevent the following:(1)The city shall have the authority to take any and all necessary remedial actions to address the proliferation of peafowl located within the city.(2)Any peafowl trapped or relocated pursuan...
Looking for Miami-Dade County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Miami city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Miami-Dade County →