Animal Ordinances in Collier County, FL (2026)
12 rules for unincorporated Collier County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Collier County Code sec. 14-48 requires every livestock owner to build and maintain a fence strong enough to confine their animals. Letting livestock run at large on roads, rights-of-way, or another person's property is a violation. Horses must carry a current negative Coggins (EIA) test.
Livestock Fencing and At-Large Rules in Collier County
Some RestrictionsCollier County Code sec. 14-48(1)
Every owner of livestock shall erect and/or maintain a fence to contain and confine all livestock kept or maintained on his/her premises. Such fence shall be sufficiently strong and substantial so as to prevent egress of livestock. Failure to so erect and/or maintain the fence in reasonably good condition shall be deemed a violation of this chapter. The owner of livestock shall, within twenty-f...
Dog Leash Laws
In unincorporated Collier County, dogs may not run at large on any public street, sidewalk, public place, or another person's property. Animals must be confined to the owner's property or under control on a leash. Outdoor tethering is tightly restricted.
Dog Leash and Running-at-Large Rules in Collier County
Some RestrictionsCollier County Code sec. 14-35(1)(B)
It shall be unlawful for the owner of an animal to allow or permit his or her animal ... To run at large in or upon any public street, road, sidewalk, other public place, or upon private property without the expressed or implied consent, subject to zoning, of the owner or any lessee of such private property.
Breed Restrictions
Collier County incorporates Florida's dangerous dog statute (F.S. ch. 767) wholesale, then adds its own investigation and appeal machinery under Code Sec. 14-38. Animal Services can order a dog held during a bite or aggression probe, and an owner has only seven days to challenge an initial dangerous-dog determination before it becomes final and registration, confinement and muzzling duties attach.
Dangerous Dog Declaration Rules in Collier County
Significant RestrictionsCollier County Code Sec. 14-38
1.Dangerous Dog Procedure.A.All definitions as set forth in F.S. ch. 767 shall be incorporated herein. The provisions of F.S. ch. 767, as may be amended, pertaining to dangerous dogs are adopted in their entirety as part of this Section. All procedures, regulations, requirements, and restrictions, pertaining to dangerous dogs are applicable under this article, and a violation of state law shall...
Beekeeping
Collier County cannot regulate or ban backyard beekeeping. Under Florida Statute 586.10, authority over managed honeybee colonies is preempted to the state through the Department of Agriculture (FDACS). All beekeepers, including hobbyists with one hive, must register colonies with FDACS.
Beekeeping Rules in Collier County
Some RestrictionsF.S. 586.10
The authority to regulate, inspect, and permit managed honeybee colonies and to adopt rules on the placement and location of registered inspected managed honeybee colonies is preempted to the state through the department and supersedes any related ordinance adopted by a county, municipality, or political subdivision thereof.
Exotic Pets
Collier County Code sec. 14-42 makes it unlawful to keep a wild animal unless you are licensed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the animal is confined on your premises, or you keep it for exhibition as a licensed circus, zoo, attraction, or educational institution.
Exotic and Wild Animal Rules in Collier County
Some RestrictionsCollier County Code sec. 14-42
It shall be unlawful for any person to maintain or keep a wild animal except: 1. Owners licensed by the State Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and confined to the owner's premises in a cage or enclosure. 2. A wild animal for exhibition purposes maintained by a licensed circus, zoo, attraction or educational institution.
Wildlife Feeding
Feeding or trying to pet wildlife is banned outright on Collier County's managed preserve lands under Sec. 54-334(e)(2), part of the county's Conduct on Preserve Lands rules. The ban covers every County-managed preserve, from Conservation Collier tracts to Parks and Recreation preserve sites, and applies alongside a broader prohibition on molesting, trapping, capturing or killing any preserve wildlife.
Wildlife Feeding Ban in Collier County Preserves
Heavy RestrictionsCollier County Code Sec. 54-334(e)(2)
(e)Wildlife.(1)No person shall possess, molest, harm, frighten, kill, trap, hunt, chase, capture, shoot, or throw any object at any wildlife, nest, or burrow within the boundaries of any County preserve, except in accordance with subsection 54-335(j) of this article. No person shall remove the eggs, nest, or young of any wildlife within preserve boundaries; nor shall any person collect, remove,...
Pet Limits
Collier County Code sets no fixed numeric limit on household dogs or cats. Instead, keeping animals commercially triggers licensing: a person who breeds three or more litters a year, or offers dogs or cats for breeding, is a regulated breeder needing a business tax receipt. Zoning also limits kennels.
How Many Pets You Can Own in Collier County
Some RestrictionsCollier County Code sec. 14-28 (Breeder)
Breeder means any person or business required to hold a business tax receipt who engages in the sale or breeding of three (3) or more litters of dogs or cats, per a one-year period or offers one (1) or more domestic cat(s) or dog(s) for breeding or stud purposes.
Cat Rules
Cats over four months old must be licensed and rabies-vaccinated (sec. 14-33). Under sec. 14-35(1)(K), any cat that is outdoors while not under direct control must be sterilized. Managed community-cat colonies are allowed when sterilized, ear-tipped, vaccinated, and properly cared for (sec. 14-44).
Cat Rules and Community Cats in Collier County
Some RestrictionsCollier County Code sec. 14-35(1)(K)
Any cat that is outdoors while not under direct control must be sterilized. 2. It shall be unlawful to keep any female dog or cat in heat (estrus) which is not confined to a building or secure enclosure, veterinary hospital, or boarding kennel and in such a manner that the female dog or cat can come in contact with any male dog or cat except for intentional breeding with a specific male dog o...
Microchipping
Every dog and cat that lands in Collier County's shelter and isn't already chipped gets a microchip implanted by Animal Services before it goes home, at the owner's expense, under Code Sec. 14-41(6)(B). Owners of already-chipped pets must update the registered contact information, and adopted animals are chipped by shelter staff before adoption, with only a documented veterinary health risk excusing the requirement.
Impounded Pet Microchipping Rules in Collier County
Some RestrictionsCollier County Code Sec. 14-41(6)(B)
B.Microchipping.(1)Dogs and cats that have been impounded shall be implanted with a radio frequency identification devise (RFID) (microchip) by animal services' staff at the owner's expense prior to being released to the owner.(2)Animals that are already microchipped when impounded, must have the information on the microchip recorded by animal services. The information must be accurate and curr...
Pet Store Rules
Collier County doesn't ban retail pet sales, but Code Sec. 14-81 makes every dog, cat, puppy or kitten sold or transferred within the county carry a licensed veterinarian's Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection, a documented vaccination and deworming record, and a permanent microchip, with breeders and pet shops required to disclose Florida's pet lemon law to every buyer.
Pet Store and Breeder Sale Rules in Collier County
Some RestrictionsCollier County Code Sec. 14-81
B.Requirements for Sale or Transfer of Ownership of Dogs and Cats.1.Dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens acquired for resale must be examined by a licensed veterinarian within five business days of physical acquisition.2.Dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens offered for sale or transfer of ownership must be at least eight weeks of age.3.Dogs, cats, puppies and kittens offered for sale or transfer of own...
Pet Groomer Rules
Collier County's animal-related business standards set specific sanitation rules for every commercial groomer under Code Sec. 14-79(D): equipment must be sanitized after each animal, tubs kept free of mold, and tepid, never cold, water used to bathe dogs and cats. Groomers also carry the chapter's general business duties: a posted permit, written disaster plan and two years of animal records.
Pet Groomer Sanitation Rules in Collier County
Some RestrictionsCollier County Code Sec. 14-79(D)
D.Groomers.1.Clippers, combs, brushes and any other equipment shall be sanitized after each animal grooming.2.Animals shall not be left unattended while tethered to grooming stations.3.Clean, separate drying towels shall be used for each individual animal groomed.4.Tepid water must be used for the purpose of washing dogs and cats. Cold water is not acceptable.5.Grooming bathtubs shall be saniti...
Bird Protection
Collier County bans injuring, killing, collecting, or possessing any shorebird or bird of prey, along with sea turtles, sand dollars, shellfish and sea stars, inside county parks, beaches, beach access areas and adjacent public areas. County Code Sec. 246-28(14) allows no exception except a permit issued by the State of Florida. Park rangers cite violators before the Code Enforcement Special Master.
Bird Protection Rules in Collier County Parks
Heavy RestrictionsCollier County Code of Laws Sec. 246-28(14)
(14)Injure, kill, molest, interfere or tamper with, destroy, collect, carry, transport, possess, or otherwise cause any physical harm to any living turtle, tortoise, shorebird, bird of prey, sand dollar, shellfish, sea star, or any nesting of any such living thing except to the extent expressly authorized by permit issued by the State of Florida or an agency thereof.
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