Animal Ordinances in St. Petersburg, FL (2026)
10 verified animal ordinances for St. Petersburg, Florida, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
St. Petersburg allows up to ten chickens or other fowl per property in a securely fenced coop no taller than six feet or larger than 130 square feet, set back from the front yard and at least 50 feet from a neighbor's house. Roosters causing noise violations must be removed.
St. Petersburg Backyard Chicken and Fowl Rules
Some RestrictionsSt. Petersburg City Code § 4-31(c)-(d)
(c) Manner of keeping. a. No person shall be allowed to keep any fowl unless the fowl are in a securely fenced area and confined to the premises of the owner. b. A coop shall be provided to house the fowl when outside. Coops shall have a maximum height of six feet and shall not exceed 130 square feet... f. Not more than ten fowl are allowed on each property, regardless of the size of the proper...
Dog Leash Laws
St. Petersburg bars dogs from running loose on another person's property without permission and caps park leashes at six feet under Sec. 4-55, while still allowing off-leash walking in public areas under voice control and designated dog parks.
St. Petersburg Dog At-Large and Park Leash Rule
Some RestrictionsSt. Petersburg City Code § 4-55
(a)Prohibited. No dog shall be allowed to run at large or upon the premises of one other than the owner without the permission of the property owner or occupant.(b)Limitation on prohibition. Nothing in subsection (a) of this section shall be construed to prevent the walking of a dog under leash control in areas open to the public or to prevent dogs running loose within fenced areas on or off th...
Breed Restrictions
St. Petersburg cannot restrict dogs based on breed under Florida Statute 767.14 as amended in 2023, but the city still enforces Chapter 4 dangerous and aggressive dog rules based on individual behavior.
St. Petersburg Dog Breed Restrictions and Dangerous Dog Rules
Few RestrictionsFla. Stat. § 767.14 (2024)
767.14 Additional local restrictions authorized. — This act does not limit any local government or public housing authority from adopting an ordinance or a policy, respectively, to address the safety and welfare concerns caused by attacks on persons or domestic animals; placing further restrictions or additional requirements on owners of dogs that have bitten or attacked persons or domestic an...
Beekeeping
Beekeeping in St. Petersburg is preempted by Florida Statute 586 and FDACS rules, allowing residential hives that follow state Best Management Requirements with FDACS registration.
St. Petersburg Beekeeping Rules and State Preemption
Few RestrictionsFla. Stat. §§ 586.055, 586.10(1) (2024)
586.055 Location of apiaries. — An apiary may be located on land classified as agricultural under s. 193.461 or on land that is integral to a beekeeping operation. 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 insp...
Exotic Pets
St. Petersburg outlaws keeping any poisonous reptile, dangerous or carnivorous wild animal, or vicious domesticated animal within City limits. Anyone who does hold a State-required permit for a regulated animal must have it valid and current, or the keeping itself is a Code violation.
St. Petersburg Wild and Dangerous Animal Ban
Heavy RestrictionsSt. Petersburg City Code § 4-2
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, maintain or have in such person's possession or under such person's control within the City any poisonous reptile or any other dangerous or carnivorous wild animal or reptile, any vicious or dangerous domesticated animal or any other animal or reptile of wild, vicious or dangerous propensities. (b) It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, mai...
Wildlife Feeding
Feeding wildlife that creates a public nuisance is prohibited in St. Petersburg, and Florida FAC 68A-4.001 bans feeding pelicans, sandhill cranes, bears, raccoons, foxes, and coyotes statewide.
St. Petersburg Wildlife Feeding Restrictions
Some RestrictionsFla. Stat. § 379.412 (2024) - Penalties for feeding wildlife and freshwater fish
Feeding wildlife or freshwater fish with food or garbage; 2. Attracting or enticing wildlife or freshwater fish with food or garbage; or 3. Allowing the placement of food or garbage in a manner that attracts or entices wildlife or freshwater fish. (b) This section does not apply to rules or orders of the commission relating to: 1. Animals held in captivity; 2. Restricting the taking or hunting ...
Pet Limits
St. Petersburg caps household pets at five adult-dog-equivalents at a single-family residence and three at a multi-family residence, for animals kept on site more than 24 hours. Dogs are the base unit: one dog equals two cats or fowl, or one miniature sheep, goat, or Vietnamese pig.
St. Petersburg Household Pet Limits
Some RestrictionsSt. Petersburg City Code § 4-8(a)
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to allow the number of household pets or animals at a residence or multi-family residence to exceed the number set forth in this subsection. (1) Not more than the combination of five adult dogs, or their equivalent, on site at a residence for longer than 24 hours. (2) Not more than the combination of three adult dogs, or their equivalent, on site at a mul...
Cat Rules
St. Petersburg doesn't license cats, but § 4-5 makes it unlawful to own or keep a cat that becomes a nuisance: one that's noisy at odd hours, vicious toward people or animals, digs up or damages others' yards, or habitually leaves droppings on someone else's property.
St. Petersburg Nuisance Cat Rules
Some RestrictionsSt. Petersburg City Code § 4-5
It shall be unlawful for any person to own or keep any cat that becomes a nuisance. Acts of nuisance shall include, but are not restricted to, the following: (1) The frequent raising of any disturbance at late or early hours or at long intervals or both. (2) Viciousness. As used in this subsection, the term "viciousness" means posing a threat to other animals or to human beings. (3) Frequent di...
Pet Store Rules
St. Petersburg bans pet stores from selling dogs, cats or rabbits at retail, and bars anyone from selling them on streets, public property or commercial parking lots. Hobby breeders selling from home and rescue or humane organizations are exempt, but must meet strict display and disclosure rules.
St. Petersburg Pet Store Retail Sale Ban
Heavy RestrictionsSt. Petersburg City Code § 4-9(b), (e)
(b) Prohibition. (1) No pet store shall offer for retail sale any dog, cat, or rabbit in the City. (2) No person shall make or offer for retail sale any dog, cat, or rabbit on or in any street, public property, or commercial parking lot. ... (e) Penalties. The fine for each violation of this section shall be $500.00 per violation. Each dog, cat, or rabbit sold or offered for sale in violation o...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
A veterinary office in St. Petersburg may board animals only incidentally, and City Code § 16.50.230.3 requires those boarding facilities be soundproof, air-conditioned, and fully enclosed. Outdoor runs or pens are banned outright wherever the property sits in a residential zoning district or abuts residential use, and any pen visible from a street must be screened by a six-foot fence.
St. Petersburg Veterinary Office Zoning Rules
Significant RestrictionsSt. Petersburg City Code § 16.50.230.3
A.A veterinary office may provide for the incidental boarding of animals.B.Boarding facilities shall be soundproof, air-conditioned, and fully enclosed.C.Outdoor runs or pens for animals are prohibited on any property that is in a residential district or abuts a residential use.D.Permitted outdoor runs or pens which are visible from any street (including alleys) shall be screened with a six-foo...
Looking for Pinellas County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement St. Petersburg city rules.
Animal Ordinances in Pinellas County →