Animal Ordinances in Orange County, FL (2026)
9 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 4 cities in Orange County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Orange County Zoning Code § 38-79(49) lets property owners in agricultural and residential districts of unincorporated Orange County raise goats, sheep, lambs, and pigs, but caps them at eight animals per acre, bans commercial on-site slaughtering, and requires any barn, paddock, stall, pen, or corral to sit at least fifteen feet from every property line and fifty feet from the water's edge.
Orange County Livestock Keeping Limits
Some RestrictionsOrange County Code § 38-79(49)
(49)Except as set forth in subsection 38-79(49)e. below, the raising or keeping of goats, sheep, lambs, and pigs shall comply with the following requirements: a. No commercial on-site slaughtering in agricultural and residential zoned districts; b. Not more than eight (8) animals per acre; more than that amount requires a special exception; c. Any barn, paddock, stall, pen, or corral shall be s...
Dog Leash Laws
Orange County bans letting any dog or other domestic animal run loose off its owner's property, and separately prohibits tethering an animal where it can reach public property or a neighbor's yard.
Orange County Dogs At-Large Leash Rule
Some RestrictionsOrange County Code § 5-33(a)(1), (5)
No domestic animal owner or person having charge, care, custody or control of any domestic animal shall permit, any domestic animal to run at large, upon any public property, or off the premises of the owner.(2)An officer finding a domestic animal at-large may issue a warning or a citation for such violation. If the owner cannot be identified and located with reasonable effort, such animal may ...
Breed Restrictions
Orange County has NO breed-specific legislation. FL Statute 767.14 preempts all local breed bans statewide. Dangerous dog determinations are behavior-based under FL Chapter 767.
Animals: Breed Restrictions
Few RestrictionsFla. Stat. § 767.14
F.S. 767.14 767.14 Additional local restrictions authorized. — This act does not limit any local government or public housing authority from adopting an ordinance or a policy, respectively, to address the safety and welfare concerns caused by attacks on persons or domestic animals; placing further restrictions or additional requirements on owners of dogs that have bitten or attacked persons or...
Beekeeping
Beekeeping is allowed throughout unincorporated Orange County under FL Statute 586.10, which preempts all local bans. Beekeepers must register annually with FDACS and follow state best management practices.
Animals: Beekeeping
Few RestrictionsFla. Stat. Ch. 586 (Beekeeping)
The authority to regulate, inspect, and permit managed honeybee colonies and to adopt rules on the placement and location of registered inspected managed honeybee colonies is preempted to the state through the department and supersedes any related ordinance adopted by a county, municipality, or political subdivision thereof. (2) The department shall: (a) Administer and enforce this chapter. (b)...
Cat Rules
Orange County Code § 5-55(a) directs the county animal services division to sterilize and return healthy community cats that enter the county shelter instead of holding or destroying them. Under the trap-neuter-return program in § 5-55(a)(1), each cat is sterilized, ear-tipped, vaccinated, and returned to the original point of pickup by a division representative.
Orange County Community Cat TNR Program
Light RestrictionsOrange County Code § 5-55(a), (a)(1)
The County recognizes the necessity of addressing the continuing presence of community cats living in an outdoor environment, independent of human intervention. To manage the community cat population, the division will implement programs to provide for the sterilization and return of all healthy community cats entering the County shelter.(1)Trap-neuter-return (TNR). Community cats shall be ster...
Microchipping
Orange County will not release an impounded dog or cat back to its owner until animal services implants a microchip at the owner's expense, alongside rabies and sterilization requirements.
Orange County Pet Microchip Release Rule
Some RestrictionsOrange County Code § 5-35(c)(3)
Microchip identification. No dog or cat shall be released to its owner unless it has been implanted with an electronic animal identification device (EAID) at the owner's expense.(4)Mandatory sterilization. No dog or cat shall be released to its owner unless it has been spayed or neutered, or has been approved for an exemption from this requirement by the division.(5)Fees and costs. The owner of...
Pet Store Rules
Pet stores throughout Orange County, inside city limits and out, are barred from selling dogs, cats, or rabbits at retail. The only way a store may display those animals is for adoption on behalf of an animal rescue organization or shelter, and the store may never hold an ownership interest in them.
Orange County Bans Pet Store Dog Sales
Heavy RestrictionsOrange County Code § 5-53(b), (c), (e)
(b)Sale of dogs, cats, rabbits prohibited. It shall be a violation of this section for a pet store to engage in the retail sale of any dog, cat, or rabbit.(c)Adoptions. Nothing in this section shall prevent a pet store from providing space and appropriate shelter, food or care for animals owned by any animal rescue organization or animal shelter...to display dogs, cats, and/or rabbits for adopt...
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
In unincorporated Orange County, a veterinary hospital or clinic for domestic pets is a special exception, not a by-right use, on A-1 and A-2 agricultural land under the Sec. 38-77 use table. Condition 54 requires the practice to operate inside a completely enclosed, soundproofed building with no outdoor animal runs or containment areas.
Orange County Veterinary Clinic Zoning Rules
Significant RestrictionsOrange County, FL Code of Ordinances § 38-79(54)
Veterinary hospitals or dog and cat grooming may be permitted in a completely enclosed, soundproofed building. No outdoor animal runs may be permitted and no animal containment facilities may be located except in a completely enclosed, soundproof structure.
Wildlife Rescue Permits
Orange County lets the public trap nuisance wildlife only if the trapper holds a current Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission permit and is separately registered with the county animal services division.
Orange County Nuisance Wildlife Trapper Permit
Significant RestrictionsOrange County Code § 5-41(c)
Trapping of animals by the public utilizing unauthorized private traps is prohibited.(1)Exceptions.a.Hunting of game birds and animals in compliance with state laws regulating such activities which shall be limited to rural areas only. Non-targeted animals shall be released immediately at the site of capture.b.Nuisance wildlife by such persons holding current permits to engage in such activity,...
Animal Ordinances by City in Orange County
4 cities in Orange County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Orange County ordinances
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