Animal Ordinances in Clay County, FL (2026)
7 rules for unincorporated Clay County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Dog Leash Laws
Clay County makes it unlawful for an owner to let any animal, dogs included, run at large on public or private property, and defines 'at large' as not being on a leash, chain, under effective voice command, behind a secure fence, or otherwise confined. The ban applies countywide except for tending feral animals and organized lawful activities.
Clay County Leash and At-Large Restraint Rules
Some RestrictionsClay County Code of Ordinances §§ 4-17, 4-22(a)
Animal at large means any animal, other than a cat, which is not under control, custody, charge or possession of the owner or their responsible person, by leash, chain, effective voice command, secure fence or other means of confinement or restraint. ... (a)Prohibition; exceptions. It is unlawful for any owner or keeper of an animal, other than the tending of feral animals, to willfully or negl...
Breed Restrictions
Clay County classifies dogs as aggressive or dangerous based on documented bites or attacks under section 4-34, not on breed. A dog that severely injures a person or animal without provocation, or minorly injures one twice in a year, can be declared aggressive; escalating conduct brings a dangerous designation with registration, confinement, and insurance requirements.
Clay County's Aggressive/Dangerous Dog Rules (No Breed Ban)
Significant RestrictionsClay County Code of Ordinances § 4-34(a)(1), (b)(1)
(a)Aggressive dog.(1)A dog may be declared aggressive if it:a.Causes severe injury to a person or domestic animal without provocation; orb.Causes minor injury to a person or domestic animal without provocation twice within a one-year period. ... (b)Dangerous dog.(1)A dog may be declared dangerous if it:a.Has aggressively bitten, attacked or endangered or has inflicted severe injury on a human b...
Wildlife Feeding
Clay County Code § 15-3.3(b)(2) makes it unlawful to feed, cause to be fed, or leave foodstuffs for any animal, deer, geese, ducks, or strays included, in or on any county park, recreation facility, or conservation area. The ban covers wild and domestic animals alike and is enforced by the Sheriff's Office and county animal control officers.
Clay County Bans Feeding Park Wildlife
Heavy RestrictionsClay County Code of Ordinances § 15-3.3(b)(2)
It shall be unlawful and a violation of this subsection for any person to feed, cause to be fed, or leave foodstuffs for any animal in or upon any county park. The word "animal" herein shall have the meaning as defined in Section 828.02, Florida Statutes, and section 4-17 of the Clay County Code.
Cat Rules
Clay County's animal-at-large and leash-style restraint law explicitly excludes cats, so free-roaming cats are not violating the general at-large ordinance. The one cat-specific duty in the Code requires a female cat in heat to be leashed or securely confined so it cannot breed or wander onto streets or private property.
Clay County Cat At-Large and Confinement Rules
Light RestrictionsClay County Code of Ordinances §§ 4-17, 4-22(c)
Animal at large means any animal, other than a cat, which is not under control, custody, charge or possession of the owner or their responsible person, by leash, chain, effective voice command, secure fence or other means of confinement or restraint. ... (c)Confinement of dogs, cats in heat. It is unlawful for any owner or keeper to permit a female dog or cat in heat (estrus) to be upon the str...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Clay County does not require blanket spay/neuter of all pets, but any dog or cat impounded for running at large must be sterilized, or the owner must post a $500 refundable deposit and sterilize within 30 days, or pay a flat $500 fee to skip sterilization before reclaiming the animal.
Clay County Sterilization Requirement for Impounded Animals
Some RestrictionsClay County Code of Ordinances § 4-22(d)
(d)[Conditions of return.] Animals impounded under the provisions of this section shall, before being returned to the owner or keeper, at the option of the owner or keeper:(1)Be sterilized by the division of animal services before being returned to the owner or keeper who shall pay the county for the cost of the sterilization; or(2)Agree in writing to have their animal sterilized within thirty ...
Microchipping
Clay County does not require every pet to be microchipped up front, but section 4-22(e) makes it mandatory before any impounded animal goes home: the county rabies-vaccinates and microchips the animal, and the owner pays for both before reclaiming it. Separate microchip rules also apply to licensed hobby breeders and commercial pet-sale outlets.
Clay County Microchipping of Impounded Animals
Some RestrictionsClay County Code of Ordinances §§ 4-22(e), 4-36(7)
(e)[Vaccination and microchipping required.] Before being returned to the owner or keeper, all animals impounded under the provisions of this section shall be properly inoculated for rabies and microchipped by the county. The owner or keeper shall pay the county for the rabies inoculation and for the microchip procedure before the animal is returned to them. ... (7)Microchip requirement. Except...
Pet Store Rules
Clay County bans commercial retail sale of dogs and cats outright, with a narrow grandfather clause: only establishments already lawfully selling dogs or cats as of March 31, 2022 may keep doing so, under strict sourcing, microchipping, record-keeping, and adoption-promotion conditions. New pet stores cannot enter the retail dog/cat trade at all.
Clay County Retail Dog and Cat Sale Ban
Heavy RestrictionsClay County Code of Ordinances § 4-36(a), (b)
(a)Prohibitions.(1)It shall be unlawful for any commercial establishment to engage in the retail sale of a dog or cat. Commercial establishment shall mean a business which is open to the public, whether by appointment or during reoccurring business hours, and that engages in the retail sale of dogs or cats. An entity meeting the requirements of and operating as a hobby breeder shall not be deem...
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