Animal Ordinances in Florence County, SC (2026)
8 rules for unincorporated Florence County, South Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
In unincorporated Florence County, keeping livestock or poultry is a zoning matter, not a blanket right. Table I lists no livestock or poultry use for any residential district (R-1 through R-5A), and Table II permits livestock only in the RU-1, RU-1A and RU-2 rural districts, with poultry and eggs allowed only in RU-2. Large-scale poultry houses need a county health department license.
Livestock and Poultry Zoning Limits in Unincorporated Florence County
Significant RestrictionsFlorence County Code §§ 30-27, 30-29 (Table II), 216, 223
Where the letter "P" is shown, the use to which it refers is permitted as a use by right in the indicated district, provided it complies fully with all applicable development standards of this chapter. ... Where the letter " ... N" is shown, the use to which it refers is not permitted in the indicated district. Where a given use or NAICS reference is not listed by either Table I or II, said use...
Dog Leash Laws
Florence County Code § 6-3 bars letting a pet or animal run at large anywhere in the unincorporated county except on property the owner or custodian owns or rents. On school grounds, in shopping areas, or similar public places, animals must be on a leash and muzzled at all times, with fines rising for repeat citations.
Florence County At-Large and Leash Rules
Some RestrictionsFlorence County Code § 6-3
(a)It shall be unlawful for any owner or custodian of any pet or animal to permit same to run at large at any time upon any street or highway or other property within Florence County, except upon property owned or rented by the owner or custodian. ... (d)No pet or animal shall be permitted to be on school grounds or in a shopping area or similar public place unless on a leash and muzzled at all...
Breed Restrictions
Florence County has no breed-specific ban: Code § 6-12 defines 'dangerous/vicious animal' by behavior, not breed, covering any canine, feline, or wild-family animal with a history or act of unprovoked aggression. Owners of a dangerous animal must register it, confine it, carry $150,000.00 in liability coverage, and pay a $200.00 registration fee.
Florence County Dangerous Animal Declaration Rules
Significant RestrictionsFlorence County Code §§ 6-12, 6-15
(e)The owner of a dangerous/vicious animal must pay a dangerous/vicious animal registration fee of $200.00. In addition, the animal must be spay/neutered and must be vaccinated for rabies.(f)The registration must be accompanied by proof of liability insurance or surety bond of at least $150,000 per incident insuring or securing the owner for personal injuries inflicted by the dangerous animal.(...
Exotic Pets
In unincorporated Florence County, no one may sell, trade, or give away a nondomesticated carnivorous animal as a pet. County Code § 6-1(d) bars the practice outright, and § 6-15 lists covered species: alligators, bears, big cats, coyotes, wolves, venomous snakes and lizards, non-human primates, and members of the deer family, among others.
Florence County Bars Wild Animals as Pets
Significant RestrictionsFlorence County Code §§ 6-1(d), 6-15
(d)No person shall sell, trade, or give away as a pet any carnivorous animal that is normally not domesticated. Such animal shall include, but not be limited to those listed in section 6-16, definitions, wild animals. ... *Wild animals: All animals commonly accepted as being "wild" including, but not limited to, the following, no matter how domesticated they may be: (1)Alligators and crocodiles...
Cat Rules
Florence County Code § 6-16 runs a Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, and Return program for community cats. Environmental Services may trap a roaming cat, have it sterilized, vaccinated, and ear-tipped, then return it to where it was captured; ear-tipped community cats are exempt from the county's abandonment, nuisance, and at-large rules.
Florence County's Community Cat TNVR Program
Light RestrictionsFlorence County Code § 6-16
(a)Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, and Return Program (TNVR). The program's purpose is to control the cat population and to reduce the feline euthanasia rate at the county shelter. ... Florence County Environmental Services may humanely trap, take to a veterinarian to be spayed or neutered, vaccinated and ear-tipped, any cat found roaming at large, and returned to the location of capture. ... Communit...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Florence County does not mandate spay or neuter for pets generally, but Code §§ 6-6(e) and 6-7 require it for any animal adopted from Environmental Services: proof from a licensed veterinarian is due within 30 days for a sexually mature animal or 12 weeks for one not yet mature, or the owner owes a $50.00 fine and forfeits the animal.
Florence County Shelter Adoption Spay/Neuter Rule
Light RestrictionsFlorence County Code §§ 6-6(e), 6-7
(e)Pursuant to Section 47-3-780 of the SC Code of Laws, 1976 as amended, any animal adopted from environmental services must be spayed or neutered by a licensed veterinarian within 30 days of adoption of a sexually mature pet or within 12 weeks of a non-sexually mature animal. Written verification from a licensed veterinarian is required for proof of spaying or neutering and this proof must be ...
Microchipping
Florence County does not require microchipping of pets generally. Under Code § 6-12(d), once an animal is registered as dangerous or vicious with Environmental Services, the department provides the owner with a microchip for that animal as part of the mandatory registration process.
Florence County Dangerous Animal Microchip Rule
Light RestrictionsFlorence County Code § 6-12(d)
(d)A person owning a dangerous animal shall register the animal with environmental services. Such registration information must include:(1)Name, address, and phone number of the owner.(2)Breed, color, sex, weight, and age of the animal.(3)Address of premises on which the animal is confined.(4)Description of pen or run area in which animal is confined outdoors. ... Environmental services shall p...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Unincorporated Florence County allows veterinary clinics by right in five of its nine business and rural districts. Sec. 30-29's Table II permits 'Veterinary services' (NAICS 54194) outright in B-3 general commercial, B-6 industrial, RU-1, RU-1A and RU-2, but bars them entirely from B-1, B-2, B-4 and B-5, and requires one parking space per 1,000 square feet of floor area.
Florence County Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Some RestrictionsFlorence County Code § 30-29
Sec. 30-29. - Table II: Schedule of permitted and conditional uses and off-street parking requirements for business and rural districts. NAICS B-1 B-2 B-3 B-4 B-5 B-6 RU-1 RU-1A RU-2 Off-Street Parking Requirements ... Veterinary services 54194 N N P N N P P P P 1.0 per 1,000 s.f. GFA
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