Animal Ordinances in Martin County, FL (2026)
13 rules for unincorporated Martin County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Martin County only allows noncommercial backyard poultry and other barnyard animals like pigs, goats, sheep and cows in its agricultural and RE-2A rural-residential districts. Land Development Regulations Sec. 3.201.C.5.a permits the RE-2A district specifically for personal-use flocks and livestock, while Sec. 3.206.D confirms barnyard animals are otherwise confined to the AG, AR, A-1A, A-1 and A-2 agricultural zones.
Backyard Chicken and Livestock Rules in Martin County
Significant RestrictionsMartin County LDR §§ 3.201.C.5.a and 3.206.D (Article 3, Division 4, Accessory Uses / Household Pets, Horses and Other Animals)
3.201.C.5. In the RE-2A district: a. Raising of barnyard animals such as, but not limited to, pigs, goats, sheep, cows, and poultry, provided that such animals are not raised for commercial purposes. ... 3.206.D. With the exception of horses, barnyard animals shall be kept or boarded only in the AG, AR, A-1A, A-1 and A-2 districts as part of an approved agricultural use or within the RE-2A dist...
Dog Leash Laws
Martin County presumes it is unlawful for any animal to be off its owner's property without a chain, leash, or other restraint, or a secure cage. The rule exempts working and hunting dogs on agricultural land under their handler's direct voice control.
Martin County Leash and Restraint Law
Some RestrictionsMartin County Code of Ordinances § 9.90.A
9.90.A. It shall be presumed to be unlawful for the owner of any animal to permit his/or her animal to be off the owner's property unless the animal is under restraint or control of a competent person by means of a chain, leash, or other similar device, or is in a secure cage or other secure enclosure. This provision shall not apply to working dogs and hunting dogs that are working or hunting o...
Breed Restrictions
Martin County has no breed ban: dogs are declared dangerous only for proven biting, attacking, or fighting behavior, regardless of breed.
Martin County dangerous dog rules
Significant RestrictionsSec. 9.95, Martin County Code of Ordinances
Dangerous dog means any dog that, according to the records of the appropriate authority: 1.Has aggressively bitten, attacked, or endangered or has inflicted severe injury on a human being on public or private property; 2.Has more than once severely injured or killed a domestic animal while off the owner's property; 3.Is used primarily or in part for the purpose of dog fighting or is a dog train...
Beekeeping
Martin County does not license or restrict ordinary backyard beekeeping by zoning, but Sec. 67.106 makes it unlawful to keep Africanized honey bees or their nests on any property. The County can inspect, and if consent is refused can get a search warrant, to remove a confirmed Africanized colony and bill the owner for the cost.
Martin County Africanized Honey Bee Ban
Light RestrictionsMartin County Code of Ordinances §§ 67.106-67.108
No person shall allow, have, create, keep, maintain, cause or permit Africanized honey bees or Africanized honey bee nests on their property. ... If the County has reason to believe that property contains arthropods of public health importance or Africanized honey bees, and consent is not received from the owner or occupant of the property, the County may apply for a search warrant pursuant to ...
Wildlife Feeding
Martin County makes it unlawful to give food, tobacco, alcohol, or other substances to any wild animal in a County park, or to try to pet one.
Martin County bans feeding wild animals in parks
Some RestrictionsMartin County Code Sec. 17.13.B.9
...it is unlawful for any person in any County park; ... 9. To give, offer or attempt to give to any wild animal any food, tobacco, alcohol, foreign object or other known noxious substances or attempt to pet any wild animal.
Cat Rules
Every owned cat over four months old in Martin County must be rabies-vaccinated and carry a County license tag, unless it qualifies as a community cat under the trap-neuter-vaccinate-return program. Colony caregivers face buffer-distance rules keeping cats away from schools, parks, and sensitive lands.
Martin County Cat Licensing and Colony Rules
Some RestrictionsMartin County Code of Ordinances §§ 9.61.A, 9.62.A, 9.90.D
9.90.D.1. All community cats must be cared for on the private property owned by the caregiver or on property owned by another with written permission of the property owner... Properties with community cats shall maintain a minimum buffer distance of 250 feet from schools, public parks and playgrounds and a minimum buffer distance of 750 feet from environmentally sensitive lands, conservation la...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Martin County requires a dog or cat to be spayed or neutered after its third confirmed impoundment as a stray or at-large animal, with the owner covering all sterilization costs before the animal can be redeemed.
Martin County Mandatory Spay-Neuter After Repeat Impoundment
Significant RestrictionsSec. 9.64.C
Upon the third confirmed impoundment of a particular dog or cat the Animal Services Unit determines to be stray or at large, the animal will be spayed or neutered, unless at the time of redemption a licensed veterinarian has examined the animal and has certified in writing that at the time sterilization would endanger the animal's health because of its age, infirmity, disability, illness, or ot...
Microchipping
Martin County does not require every pet to be microchipped up front, but the Code of Ordinances makes it mandatory the second time your dog or cat is picked up as a stray. Owners pay for the implant at redemption, and a micro-chip also substitutes for a tag when animal control checks identification.
Martin County Repeat-Impoundment Microchip Rule
Some RestrictionsMartin County Code of Ordinances § 9.64.B
9.64.B. Upon the second impoundment of a particular dog or cat the Animal Services Unit determines to be stray or at large, the animal will have a microchip implanted at the owners expense, fee to be collected at the time of redemption of the particular dog or cat.
Pet Store Rules
Martin County pet stores can't sell dogs, cats, or rabbits off the shelf: only pre-existing, grandfathered stores may still sell dogs and cats.
Martin County Bans Retail Pet-Store Sales
Heavy RestrictionsSec. 9.87.A.19.a, Martin County Code of Ordinances
No pet stores shall offer for sale or sell out of its store, any rabbits, dogs or cats. This subsection shall not prohibit any pet store from collaborating with animal shelters or private nonprofit organizations...to offer space for such entities to showcase adoptable rabbits, dogs and cats provided the pet store shall not have any ownership interest in the animals offered for adoption and shal...
Pet Groomer Rules
Grooming establishments operating in Martin County must meet detailed minimum-care standards under the Code of Ordinances: fire safety plans, a working emergency phone with a vet's number posted, daily cleaning, and a barrier keeping the public from directly handling animals in cages.
Martin County Pet Grooming Establishment Standards
Some RestrictionsMartin County Code of Ordinances § 9.87.A
9.87.A. All pet stores, pet dealers, grooming establishments and kennels located in, or engaging in business in Martin County, shall comply with the minimum standards contained in this section, for the care of animals as indicated below: 1. Each establishment shall meet all fire safety requirements in accordance with local fire and zoning regulations... 4. A protective minimum three-foot horizo...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Martin County requires veterinary clinics in its commercial districts to operate entirely inside a soundproofed, enclosed building with no outdoor boarding, under Land Development Regulations Sec. 3.107. In the county's agricultural and RE-2A rural-residential districts, animal confinement structures instead need a 100-foot setback from every property line unless fully enclosed and soundproofed.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules in Martin County
Some RestrictionsMartin County LDR § 3.107.A-B (Article 3, Division 3, Veterinary Medical Services)
3.107.A. Within COR, LC, CC and GC districts: 1. Shall be within a completely enclosed building which shall be soundproofed and constructed and utilized so that emission of odor or noise shall not detrimentally impact property in the immediate vicinity. 2. There shall be no storage or boarding of animals outside of the fully enclosed and soundproofed building. 3. Pens and other structures for t...
Bird Protection
Martin County makes it a crime to take or attempt to take any bird, animal, fowl or reptile from a public road, street, highway or its right-of-way anywhere in the unincorporated county. The ban covers bow and arrow, net, rope, dog, trap and spotlighting used to locate or facilitate a take, and a first conviction can draw 60 days in jail and a $200 fine.
Martin County Bans Taking Birds and Wildlife From Roads
Significant RestrictionsSec. 155.133, Martin County Code of Ordinances
It shall be unlawful for any person on or from any public highway, street or road or on or from the right-of-way thereof in the unincorporated areas of Martin County, Florida, to take or attempt to take any animal, fowl, bird or reptile by the use of bow and arrow, net, rope, dog or trap and this prohibition shall include the shining of a spotlight for the purpose of disclosing the presence of ...
Wildlife Rescue Permits
Martin County requires wildlife rehabilitation facilities to hold all required state and federal wildlife permits, keep animals in secure enclosures with no free-roaming, and set every enclosure back at least 500 feet from neighboring homes, under Land Development Regulations Sec. 3.108.1.
Wildlife Rehab Facility Rules in Martin County
Some RestrictionsMartin County LDR § 3.108.1.A-D (Article 3, Division 3, Wildlife Rehabilitation Facilities)
3.108.1.A. This use shall be conducted in accordance with all applicable state and federal requirements. 3.108.1.B. All animals shall be secured in enclosures that promote the animal's health and well being and which provide protection to the general public. No animals shall be allowed to roam free on-site. 3.108.1.C. No animal enclosure shall be located within 500 feet of any residential build...
All Martin County ordinances
See every category we cover for Martin County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Martin County Ordinance Hub →