Animal Ordinances in Alachua County, FL (2026)
9 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Alachua County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Alachua County lets residents on unincorporated land keep poultry as an accessory use to a single-family home, no separate poultry permit required, but flock size is capped by acreage, roosters and drakes are banned in six residential districts, and every enclosure must be covered and fenced. Commercial poultry raising is prohibited outright under Alachua County Code § 404.13(b).
Backyard Poultry Rules in Alachua County
Some RestrictionsAlachua County Code § 404.13(b)
(b)Poultry on parcels less than five (5) acres. The keeping of poultry on less than five (5) acres is allowed as an accessory use to any legal single-family residence subject to the following standards:(1)Permitted activities.a.Poultry permitted in this Section shall be for personal use only, except youth projects such as 4-H/FFA activities.(2)Prohibited activities.a.The commercial raising of p...
Dog Leash Laws
Alachua County requires owners to keep physical control of a dog anytime it's off the owner's property, it may not run at large on streets, sidewalks, schools or parks, with narrow exemptions for service, police/SAR and licensed hunting or trial dogs, backed by up to $500-per-count fines.
Dog Leash & Physical Control Law (Alachua County)
Some RestrictionsAlachua County Code § 72.12
Sec. 72.12. Physical control of dogs. (a)An owner shall maintain physical control of a dog at all times when the dog is off the owner's property, whether owned or leased, unless the property's owner or lessee consents to the removal of the physical control and the dog is under immediate adult supervision. No owner or other person having possession or control of any dog shall cause, permit, or a...
Breed Restrictions
Alachua County has no breed-specific dog rules; instead it classifies individual dogs as "dangerous" or "aggressive" based on documented incidents, then requires 14-day compliance with registration, insurance, sterilization, enclosure and signage, or the dog becomes county property.
Dangerous & Aggressive Dog Classification (Alachua County)
Significant RestrictionsAlachua County Code § 72.14
Sec. 72.14. Dangerous dogs. (a)Dangerous dog investigations, determinations, classifications, and other actions, including related hearings and appeals, shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of F.S. ch. 767, part II, as may be amended. Animal resources shall investigate reported incidents involving any dog that may be dangerous and, if possible, will interview the owner and requi...
Wildlife Feeding
Alachua County bans feeding or petting wild animals anywhere on county park property under Park Rules § 76.3(3). The same section bars capturing, collecting, harming, or harassing any wild animal life except fish classified as edible or game species, unless the Parks and Open Spaces Department has authorized the activity in advance.
No Feeding Wild Animals in Alachua County Parks
Some RestrictionsAlachua County Code § 76.3(3)
It shall be unlawful for any person to do any of the following in any park or designated area within a park, unless the person has been given prior special authorization... (3)Wildlife.a.No person shall feed or pet any wild animals.b.Unless authorized by the department, no person shall capture, collect, or in any way harm or harass any animal life except fish commonly referred to as "edible" or...
Cat Rules
Alachua County Code § 72.25 makes sterilize-ear tip-vaccinate-return the county's preferred response to outdoor community cats, exempting compliant cats from licensing and at-large provisions that apply to owned animals. Colony caregivers must feed, water, and shelter properly and pursue trap-neuter-return for newly arriving cats; harboring an ear-tipped community cat inside a residence is itself a violation unless for veterinary care.
Community Cat (Feral Colony) Rules, Alachua County
Some RestrictionsAlachua County Code § 72.25
(a)The county recognizes the need for innovation in addressing the issues presented by the permanent presence and uncontrolled reproduction of community cats living outdoors, independent of human intervention.(b)Community cat management, in which the community cat is sterilized, ear-tipped, vaccinated against the threat of rabies, and returned to the original location, is the preferred response...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Every dog or cat adopted from Alachua County animal resources must be sterilized before release under Alachua County Code § 72.30(b)(2); if health prevents sterilization at adoption, the adopter posts a deposit and must sterilize within 30 days. Separately, § 72.43(c)(1) forces anyone designated an 'irresponsible pet owner' to have all their animals spayed or neutered within 30 days of that designation.
Mandatory Spay/Neuter Rules, Alachua County
Significant RestrictionsAlachua County Code §§ 72.30(b)(2)-(3); 72.43(c)(1)
(b)(2)Any dog or cat adopted from animal resources shall be sterilized, vaccinated, microchipped, and licensed prior to release to the new owner. If the sterilization of the animal cannot be done at the time of adoption because of health reasons, then the person shall leave a deposit guaranteeing sterilization, as required by F.S. § 823.15.(3)To be eligible for the return of the required adopti...
Microchipping
Alachua County Code § 72.24.5 requires every dog and cat four months or older that is sold, transferred, exchanged, adopted, or returned to its owner from the county animal shelter to be implanted with a microchip registered to that owner. Ear-tipped community cats are exempt. Owners with an already-implanted but unregistered chip must register it with the manufacturer or face a citation from Animal Resources.
Mandatory Pet Microchipping in Alachua County
Some RestrictionsAlachua County Code § 72.24.5
(a)All dogs and cats four months of age or older sold, transferred, exchanged, adopted, or returned to their owner from the county animal shelter shall be required to be implanted with a microchip that is registered to the owner of the animal. Ear-tipped community cats are exempted from this provision.(b)It shall be a violation of this chapter for owners of dogs and cats who have a microchip to...
Pet Store Rules
Alachua County has no ordinance banning retail dog or cat sales; instead, § 72.44 requires any breeder, hobby or commercial, to hold a county breeder permit before breeding or offering a dog or cat for breeding, and a commercial breeder who sells more than two litters or 20 animals a year must meet recordkeeping, disclosure, and inspection rules on top of the permit.
Commercial Pet Breeder Permit Rules, Alachua County
Significant RestrictionsAlachua County Code § 72.44(a), (b)(1)
Commercial breeder means any person, firm, partnership, corporation, or other association which, in the ordinary course of business, engages in the sale of more than two litters, or 20 or more dogs or cats, per year, whichever is greater, to the public. This definition includes breeders of animals who sell such animals directly to a consumer... (b)Breeder permit requirements.(1)No breeder shall...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Alachua County allows a veterinary clinic or hospital as a limited use in eleven zoning districts, from A-RB and AP through BR, BH, BA, BW, MS, and MP, and by special exception in the Agriculture (A) district. Any clinic that boards animals must be fully enclosed and noise-suppressed, and outdoor animal areas need at least two acres and a 50-foot setback from residential zoning under County Code § 404.46.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning Standards (Alachua County, FL)
Some RestrictionsAlachua County Code § 404.46
A veterinary clinic or hospital is allowed as a limited use in the A-RB, AP, BP, BR, BR-1, BH, BA, BA-1, BW, MS, and MP districts and in traditional neighborhood and TODs, subject to the following standards. A veterinary clinic or hospital may be allowed by special exception in the A district, subject to the following standards. (a)Any veterinary clinic or hospital that provides boarding facili...
Animal Ordinances by City in Alachua County
1 cities in Alachua County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Alachua County ordinances
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