Animal Ordinances in Highlands County, FL (2026)
9 rules for unincorporated Highlands County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Unincorporated Highlands County bans keeping hoofed animals, fowl or livestock of any number on land that isn't zoned for agriculture. Development Services enforces the restriction, though a single pure-bred pot-bellied pig is allowed on a residential lot of at least 10,000 square feet in the EU, R-1A or R-1 districts if it meets specific care conditions.
Highlands County Livestock and Fowl Keeping Rule
Significant RestrictionsHighlands County Code § 12.05.316(A)
Except as provided by this section and section 12.05.201 of this chapter, it shall be unlawful for any person to keep or maintain any hoofed animals, fowl or livestock regardless of number, or permit them to be on any lot or premises within the limits of the unincorporated areas of Highlands County, Florida, unless it is zoned for agricultural purposes. ... 1.One pure-bred pot-bellied pig may b...
Dog Leash Laws
In unincorporated Highlands County, every dog must wear a collar and leash whenever it is on a public street, right-of-way or another person's property, kept under the control of a person strong and mature enough to manage it. A dog caught roaming loose can be impounded by Highlands County Animal Control and held at least five calendar days before an owner may redeem it.
Dog Leash Law in Unincorporated Highlands County
Some RestrictionsHighlands County Code § 4.5-22
All dogs, when on or about the public streets, rights-of-way or other public places shall be on a collar and leash, under the direct care, custody, control and supervision of a person who has sufficient maturity and strength to care for, control and manage the dog. All dogs, when in, or about the private property of any person or persons other than that of the person who owns, harbors, maintain...
Breed Restrictions
Highlands County does not restrict dogs by breed. Instead, under Code section 4.5-28, Animal Control investigates any dog reported as potentially dangerous and, after a hearing before the county's special magistrate, can formally classify it as a dangerous dog, which then triggers registration, confinement and mandatory sterilization requirements for the owner.
Dangerous Dog Rules in Highlands County
Significant RestrictionsHighlands County Code § 4.5-28
(b)After investigating any reported incident involving any dog that may be dangerous, the animal control authority shall make an initial determination as to whether there is sufficient cause to classify the dog as dangerous and shall afford the owner an opportunity for a hearing prior to making a final determination. ... (d)The county's special magistrate shall conduct hearings pursuant to this...
Exotic Pets
Unincorporated Highlands County bars keeping non-domestic carnivores, poisonous arachnids and reptiles, crocodilians over 36 inches, large nonpoisonous snakes and state-classified Class I/II wildlife anywhere outside AU agricultural or B-3/B-4 business zoning. Owners there still need state and federal permits plus a county special exception before Development Services will allow the animals.
Highlands County Wild and Exotic Animal Ban
Significant RestrictionsHighlands County Code § 12.05.316(B)
B.It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or maintain any of the following animals regardless of number on any lot or premises within the limits of Highlands County, Florida, unless it is zoned for agricultural purposes in the AU agricultural district or is in the B-3 business district or the B-4 business district, all necessary state and federal permits are obtained, a special exception is...
Wildlife Feeding
Highlands County does not ban feeding wildlife generally, but Code § 4.5-5 bars anyone other than the property owner from feeding feral cats on public or private land without the owner's written permission filed with Animal Control. Animal Control investigates complaints and can trap and remove feral cats from locations where unauthorized feeding continues.
Feral Cat Feeding Rules in Highlands County, FL
Some RestrictionsHighlands County Code § 4.5-5
(a)No person other than the property owner shall feed feral cats on public or private property unless authorized by the property owner in writing, a copy of which has been filed with Highlands County Animal Control.(b)Highlands County Animal Control shall investigate any complaint that any person other than the property owner or a person authorized in writing by the property owner placed or cau...
Cat Rules
Article IV of Highlands County's animal chapter lets any cat found roaming at large on public property or someone else's private property be impounded under Code § 4.5-41, held at least five days for owner redemption. A cat redeemed by anyone other than its owner, and every cat redeemed more than once in 12 months, must be spayed or neutered and microchipped before leaving the shelter under § 4.5-42.
Cat At-Large Rules in Highlands County, FL
Some RestrictionsHighlands County Code §§ 4.5-41, 4.5-42
Any cat found roaming, wandering or running at large in, on or about any public street, right-of-way or other public place; or in, or about the private property of any person, other than that of the person who owns, harbors, keeps or maintains the cat, shall be subject to impoundment and shall be held for at least five calendar days, including the day of impoundment, during which time the owner...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Highlands County does not require every pet owner to spay or neuter, but any dog or cat redeemed from Animal Control by someone other than the original owner must be surgically sterilized and microchipped before leaving the shelter, and an owner who redeems the same pet more than once in twelve months faces the same sterilization requirement.
Highlands County Impound Spay-Neuter Rule
Some RestrictionsHighlands County Code §§ 4.5-25, 4.5-42
All dogs redeemed from animal control under this section by anyone other than the owner shall be spayed or neutered and have an RFID microchip implanted prior to leaving the animal control shelter. ... All dogs redeemed from animal control under this section by an owner shall have an RFID microchip surgically implanted prior to leaving the animal control shelter. All dogs redeemed more than onc...
Microchipping
Highlands County lets dog, cat and ferret owners skip the metal registration tag and collar if the animal carries an RFID microchip registered with Animal Control. Code § 4.5-3 ties the microchip option to the rabies registration required after vaccination, and animals redeemed from the shelter after impoundment must be microchipped before they leave, under sections 4.5-25 and 4.5-42.
Pet Microchip Rules in Highlands County, FL
Some RestrictionsHighlands County Code § 4.5-3
Upon payment of the registration fee, Highlands County Animal Control shall issue to the owner of the animal a registration tag for each vaccinated dog, cat, and ferret that has not been implanted with a radio frequency identification (RFID) microchip registered with Highlands County Animal Control. ... The owner of the animal shall cause the dog, cat or ferret that has not been implanted with ...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
In unincorporated Highlands County, a veterinary clinic isn't a use you can open anywhere zoned for business. The O office district allows treatment-only clinics as a special exception with Board of Adjustment approval, the B-1 and B-2 neighborhood business districts ban animal hospitals and veterinary clinics outright, and the B-3 general business district permits a full-service veterinarian, animal hospital or boarding kennel by right.
Highlands County Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Significant RestrictionsHighlands County Code § 12.05.244
F.Special exceptions. ... Permissible in this district by the BOA after public hearing and subject to appropriate conditions and safeguards are: ... 8.Veterinary clinics, treatment only, no boarding or grooming;
All Highlands County ordinances
See every category we cover for Highlands County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Highlands County Ordinance Hub →