Animal Ordinances in Columbia County, FL (2026)
6 rules for unincorporated Columbia County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Unincorporated Columbia County bars keeping horses, cows, swine, sheep, goats or poultry in the RSF Residential Single-Family district outright. Raising livestock and poultry is a permitted agricultural activity instead in the Agricultural (A-1, A-2, A-3) districts, where animal-housing structures must sit back 100 feet from any lot line and feedlots or commercial operations 300 feet.
Backyard Chickens and Livestock, Columbia County
Significant RestrictionsColumbia County Land Development Regulations §§ 4.5.2, 4.7.4
1.All agricultural activities (but not including livestock or poultry slaughterhouses), including the raising of livestock and poultry, the production of dairy and poultry products, the cultivation of field crops and fruits and berries, forestry, apiculture, and similar uses; provided, that no structure used for housing of animals or any commercial feed lot operation shall be located within 300...
Dog Leash Laws
In unincorporated Columbia County, Code § 18-74 requires every animal, not just dogs, to be confined to its owner's property, on other property with consent, or under restraint on a leash or tether. An animal kept indoors is presumed confined, and tethering that denies shelter, food or water is not allowed.
Dog Restraint and Confinement in Columbia County
Some RestrictionsColumbia County Code §§ 18-73, 18-74
Restraint means an animal controlled by leash or under the control of a competent person and obedient to that person's commands. ... Every animal shall be confined within an enclosure sufficient to prevent the animal's escape upon property that is either owned or controlled by the animal's owner or upon other property with the consent of the owner of that property. For purposes of this section ...
Breed Restrictions
Columbia County regulates dogs by documented behavior, not breed. Code § 18-73 defines an 'aggressive dog' by conduct such as attacking, biting or pack behavior, and Code § 18-75.1 lets animal control impound that dog; a separate 'dangerous dog' track under Code § 18-76 follows Florida Statutes ch. 767.
Aggressive and Dangerous Dog Rules Columbia County
Significant RestrictionsColumbia County Code §§ 18-73, 18-75.1(a)
Aggressive dog means any dog that, according to the records of the appropriate authority: (1)Exhibits, or shall have exhibited tendencies toward:a.Attacking, biting at, snarling, or circling a victim with teeth shown;b.Attacking vehicles or property owned by others on public or private lands;c.Acting with a pack mentality where any dog within a group of dogs has acted in a manner described in s...
Cat Rules
Columbia County's animal control article covers cats under its general 'animal' definition rather than separate cat licensing. Code § 18-79 requires rabies vaccination for cats four months and older, and Code § 18-86 requires a female cat in heat to be humanely confined to prevent unplanned breeding.
Cat Ownership Rules in Columbia County
Some RestrictionsColumbia County Code §§ 18-73, 18-79, 18-86
Animal means any domesticated creature commonly kept as a pet. ... All dogs, cats and ferrets four months of age or older must be currently (in accordance with the particular type vaccine) vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian against rabies with a United States government-approved vaccine. The cost of vaccination must be borne by the animal's owner. ... Female dogs/cats in heat shall be humane...
Pet Groomer Rules
In unincorporated Columbia County, animal grooming is a permitted principal use by right in the CG Commercial, General district under the Land Development Regulations, grouped with barber shops, dry cleaners and similar personal-service businesses rather than treated as a kennel or veterinary use.
Pet Grooming Zoning Rules, Columbia County
Few RestrictionsColumbia County Land Development Regulations § 4.13.2
3.Service establishments such as barber or beauty shop, shoe repair shop, restaurant, interior decorator, photographic studio, art or dance or music studio, reducing salon or gymnasium, animal grooming, self-service laundry or dry cleaner, tailor or dressmaker, laundry or dry cleaning pickup station, and similar uses. ... Unless otherwise specified, the above uses are subject to the following l...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
In unincorporated Columbia County, veterinary clinics are not a permitted use by right. They require a special exception in the Agricultural (A-1, A-2, A-3) districts, where kennel or clinic buildings and open runs must sit at least 150 feet from any lot line, or in Rural Residential (RR) on a 3.5-acre-plus parcel, where the setback drops to 50 feet.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning in Columbia County
Significant RestrictionsColumbia County Land Development Regulations §§ 4.5.7, 4.6.5
4.5.7Special exceptions within Agriculture-1, Agriculture-2 and Agriculture-3 districts. ... 12.Commercial kennels, veterinary clinics, and animal shelters; provided, that no open runs or buildings used for housing of animals shall be located within 150 feet of any lot line. ... The following special exceptions shall require a minimum three-and-one-half-acre parcel and shall not be located with...
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