Animal Ordinances in Flagler County, FL (2026)
8 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Flagler County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Unincorporated Flagler County confines commercial-scale poultry and livestock keeping to the AC Agriculture and AC-2 Agriculture/Forestry zoning districts. Animals other than typical pets must be kept in a fenced area, pen or corral, and any structure housing poultry or livestock must sit at least 100 feet from the district boundary. Palm Coast, Flagler Beach, Beverly Beach, Bunnell and Marineland enforce their own separate animal rules.
Backyard Chickens and Livestock in Flagler County
Some RestrictionsFlagler County Land Development Code, Art. III, § 3.03.02.B.3 (AC Agriculture District)
3.Agriculture, forestry, livestock and poultry production. All domesticated animals (except those generally recognized as pets) shall be kept in a fenced area, structure, pen or corral. No structure (excluding fenced areas) containing poultry or livestock and no storage of manure or odor- or dustproducing substance or use shall be located within one hundred (100) feet of a district boundary.
Dog Leash Laws
In unincorporated Flagler County, Florida, every dog must stay on its owner's property or be leashed and under direct control; letting a dog run at large violates Sec. 5-61 of the county Code. A tether must let the dog move at least twelve feet and the dog must come off it for ten hours in every twenty-four. Incorporated Palm Coast, Flagler Beach, Bunnell and Beverly Beach enforce their own separate leash ordinances.
Flagler County Leash and Dog-at-Large Law
Some RestrictionsFlagler County Code of Ordinances § 5-61
(a)For purposes of this subsection:(1)All dogs shall be confined to their owner's property or leashed and under the control of the owner and may not run at large outside of the owner's property.(2)All dogs, except those otherwise exempted within this article and those identified as service animals as defined in F.S. § 413.08, or its successor, are prohibited at all times from active public recr...
Breed Restrictions
Flagler County has no breed ban; Florida law preempts breed-specific ordinances, so a dog is regulated on behavior, not breed. Sec. 5-67 adopts the state's dangerous-dog statute, F.S. Ch. 767, by reference and lays out the county's own investigation, notice, hearing and appeal process for classifying a dog dangerous in unincorporated Flagler County.
Flagler County Dangerous Dog Classification and Appeal
Significant RestrictionsFlagler County Code of Ordinances § 5-67
(a)The provisions of F.S. pt. II, ch. 767, or their successor, which apply to dangerous dogs, are hereby adopted by this reference. ... (d)An owner who receives notice of an initial determination that sufficient cause exists to classify his/her dog as dangerous may abide by the resulting restrictions or may request a hearing in writing, within seven days of receipt of such notice, to contest (i...
Exotic Pets
Unincorporated Flagler County does not ban owning an exotic animal outright, but any noncommon household pet or wild-animal sanctuary and shelter facility may operate only in the AC Agriculture zoning district, only as a special exception, and only with a state or federal captive-wildlife permit, a five-acre minimum site and a 100-foot structure setback. Palm Coast, Flagler Beach, Beverly Beach, Marineland and Bunnell each enforce separate municipal codes.
Keeping Wild Animals in Unincorporated Flagler County
Significant RestrictionsFlagler County Land Development Code, Art. III, § 3.03.02.C.16(a),(c),(f)
16.Noncommon household pet and wild animal sanctuary/shelter facilities, subject to the following standards:(a)State and federal permits. If confining any animals at a facility requires state or federal permits, they shall be obtained prior to commencement of operations, including, but not limited to: Class I, II or III permits for captive wildlife, as applicable, in accordance with Chapter 68A...
Wildlife Feeding
Flagler County bans feeding any wildlife on county-owned land without prior approval. The rule sits alongside bans on cutting vegetation, taking soil, camping overnight and lighting fires on county property, and it applies only to land the county owns in the unincorporated area, not to private yards.
Flagler County Wildlife Feeding Ban on County Land
Some RestrictionsFlagler County Code of Ordinances § 13-2
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in any of the following activities on lands owned by the county without prior approval: ... (7)Feeding any wildlife. ... (c)This section shall not apply to individuals expressly authorized by law to engage in activities otherwise prohibited herein. ... (d)Violations of this section are civil infractions punishable as provided for section 1-6 or c...
Cat Rules
Flagler County has no cat licensing program or feral-colony ordinance. Two rules cover cats in unincorporated Flagler County: the general animal at-large restraint duty in Sec. 5-26, and Sec. 5-70, which requires every cat owned or possessed in the unincorporated county to be inoculated in accordance with Florida law.
Flagler County Cat At-Large and Inoculation Rule
Light RestrictionsFlagler County Code of Ordinances §§ 5-26, 5-70
(c)The owner of an animal shall ensure that the animal does not run at large or stray onto public property or the private property of another without permission from the property owner. Any animal that is off the property of its owner shall be restrained in a manner suitable for the type of animal such that it is under the direct control of the owner. ... Sec. 5-70. - Inoculation of cats. Each ...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Flagler County treats veterinary clinics differently by zoning district. In the AC Agriculture district a clinic needs special exception approval alongside animal hospitals and kennels, while the C-2 General Commercial district lists veterinary clinics as a permitted principal use in its general commercial areas outside shopping centers.
Veterinary Clinics in Unincorporated Flagler County
Some RestrictionsFlagler County Land Development Code, Art. III, §§ 3.03.02.C.2 (AC Agriculture District) and 3.03.17.B.23(o) (C-2 General Commercial District)
C.Permitted special exceptions. ... 2.Animal hospitals, veterinary clinics, kennels. ... 23.In other general commercial areas: ... (o)Veterinary clinics.
Bird Protection
Flagler County bans hunting, harming, trapping or killing any wildlife, reptile or bird, and disturbing their eggs or nests, inside county parks and recreation areas under Sec. 23-2(7). The protection applies only on county park property in the unincorporated county, not as a general countywide wildlife law.
Wildlife and Bird Protection in County Parks
Heavy RestrictionsFlagler County Code of Ordinances, Sec. 23-2(7)
(7)Possess, hunt, molest, harm, frighten, kill, trap, pursue, chase, tease, shoot or throw missiles at any animal, wildlife, reptile or bird or their eggs or nests.
Animal Ordinances by City in Flagler County
1 cities in Flagler County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Flagler County ordinances
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