Animal Ordinances in Franklin County, FL (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Franklin County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Dog Leash Laws
Unincorporated Franklin County requires dogs off their owner's property to be under 'direct control,' defined in Code Section 4-6 as continuous physical restraint by leash, cord or chain. Section 4-11 bans running at large on public streets, parks and beaches, and a stricter six-foot leash limit applies at county beaches, boat ramps, parks and parking areas.
Dog Leash and Direct Control Rules
Some RestrictionsFranklin County Code §§ 4-6, 4-11
Direct control means immediate, continuous physical control of a dog at all times it is off the premises of the owner by means of a leash, cord, or chain of such strength to humanely restrain the dog and controlled by a person capable of restraining the dog, or humane safe and secure restraint within a vehicle. ... Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, at all beaches owned by the...
Cat Rules
Unincorporated Franklin County does not license cats, but its Animal Control Ordinance regulates them in two ways: Section 4-11(d) requires an owner to confine a female cat in estrus so she cannot reach a male cat, and Section 4-6 classifies any un-owned 'feral' cat as a public nuisance that animal control may impound and euthanize.
Franklin County Cat Confinement, Feral Rules
Some RestrictionsFranklin County Code §§ 4-6, 4-11, 4-12
Feral animal means any wild dog or cat, whether it was born in the wild or has reverted to a wild state due to abandonment or lack of domestication. ... (d)Dogs and cats in estrus. The owner of any female dog or cat in estrus shall keep such dog or cat confined in a building or secure enclosure, veterinary hospital, or boarding kennel in such a manner that such female dog or cat cannot come in ...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Franklin County does not mandate spay or neuter for every pet, but it requires sterilization in two specific situations. Section 4-19 requires any animal adopted from the county shelter to be neutered or spayed, with age-based exceptions, and Section 4-15(2)d requires proof of spay or neutering before the county will register a dog classified as dangerous.
Franklin County Spay/Neuter for Shelter, Dangerous Dogs
Some RestrictionsFranklin County Code §§ 4-15, 4-19
d.Proof of spay or neutering. ... Before any animal may be adopted from the animal shelter, provision shall be made for such animal to be neutered or spayed with the following exceptions: (1)A dog or cat claimed by the owner before the end of the fifth day or at the end of the quarantine period shall not be required to be neutered or spayed before its release to the owner.(2)If said county dog ...
Microchipping
Franklin County requires every pet over four months old to carry identification showing the owner's name, address and phone number, and requires a rabies tag at all times under Section 4-20, unless the animal is implanted with a microchip recorded with the county animal shelter. A dog classified as dangerous must separately carry permanent identification such as a tattoo or microchip under Section 4-15(2)c.
Franklin County Pet ID and Microchip Rules
Light RestrictionsFranklin County Code §§ 4-15, 4-20
c.Permanent and visible identification of the dog, such as a tattoo on the inside thigh or electronic implantation. ... (a)Except as otherwise provided, every owner of an animal over the age of four (4) months residing within the geographical areas of the county must carry identification to identify the animal's ownership including:(1)The owner's name;(2)The owner's address;(3)The owner's phone...
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