9 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 3 cities in Pasco County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Pasco County Ordinance 25-44 created Land Development Code Section 530.25, effective November 12, 2025, allowing residents to keep backyard chickens (hens only, for egg production) in most residential districts, with no permit required; the detailed limits in Chapter 14 cap most households at four hens, prohibit roosters, and set coop standards.
Pasco County, FL, Ordinance No. 25-44, Attachment A, Land Development Code Sec. 530.25 (Backyard Chickens), effective Nov. 12, 2025
530.25 Backyard Chickens. Intent and Purpose. The purpose of this section is to allow the keeping of backyard chickens (exclusively hens) for the purposes of egg production within residential districts, excluding MF-1, MF-2 and MF-3. The E-R Estate-Residential District and the ER-2 Estate-Residential District are not subject to the requirements of Chapter 14 of the Code of Ordinances as the kee...
Pasco County Code of Ordinances Sec. 14-97 makes it unlawful to let a dog roam, wander, or run at large on any public street or private property in unincorporated Pasco County; every dog must be under the direct control of a person capable of managing it.
Pasco County, FL, Code of Ordinances ch. 14, art. II, div. 4, Sec. 14-97 (Running at large)
Sec. 14-97. Running at large. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person who keeps, harbors or owns any dog or pot bellied pig to allow or permit the dog or pot bellied pig to roam, wander or run at large in, on or about any public street, roadway or place in the unincorporated area of the County or in, on or about the private property of any person or persons including the dog or pot bellied pig ...
Pasco County has no breed-specific dog ban. Florida Statute Sec. 767.14 prohibits local governments from adopting any dog regulation that is specific to breed, weight, or size, so Pasco regulates only by behavior, classifying individual dogs as 'dangerous' under Chapter 14 Sec. 14-42 and F.S. ch. 767.
Fla. Stat. Sec. 767.14 (2024) (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 domestic animals; or developing procedures and criteria for the...
Beekeeping is permitted in unincorporated Pasco County under Florida state preemption (FL §586). Beekeepers must register with FDACS and follow Best Management Practices. Up to 3 colonies on lots of one-quarter acre or less. Grazing animals require AR or ER zoning and minimum one acre.
Fla. Stat. ch. 586 (Beekeeping; Florida Honey Bee Act)
Apiary” means a beeyard or site where honeybee hives, honeybees, or honeybee equipment is located. (2) “Apiculture” means the raising, caring for, and breeding of honeybees. (3) “Beekeeping equipment” means honeybee hives, frames, supers, pallets, queen excluders, and other equipment which is used in the cultivation of honeybees and the harvesting of products produced by honeybees. (4) “Certifi...
Exotic pet ownership in Pasco County is regulated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Class I wildlife is prohibited, Class II requires permits, Class III needs a no-cost license. Pasco County also requires AR or ER zoning for grazing animals (3 per acre, 1 swine per acre).
Florida law prohibits feeding alligators, bears, sandhill cranes, and foxes under FL §379.412 and FWC rules. Pasco County enforces state wildlife feeding bans; intentional feeding of alligators is a 2nd degree misdemeanor.
Fla. Stat. § 379.412 (Penalties for feeding wildlife and freshwater fish)
F.S. 379.412 Penalties for feeding wildlife and freshwater fish. (1)(a) The penalties in this section apply to a violation of any rule or order of the commission that prohibits or restricts: 1. Feeding wildlife or freshwater fish with food or garbage; 2. Attracting or enticing wildlife or freshwater fish with food or garbage; or 3. Allowing the placement of food or garbage in a manner that attr...
On a typical Pasco County single-family residential lot (5,000 sq ft up to 22,000 sq ft), the Land Development Code allows the keeping of no more than three dogs and/or three cats, with the total number of those animals not to exceed six; keeping four or more dogs or cats generally moves the use into the kennel category.
Pasco County, FL, Land Development Code ch. 500, Sec. 530 (Supplemental Regulations); Code of Ordinances ch. 14, Sec. 14-27 (Large kennel definition)
The Land Development Code permits, on single-family residential lots of at least 5,000 but less than 22,000 square feet, the keeping of dogs, cats, rabbits, and chicken hens, provided the number does not exceed three dogs and/or three cats, with the total number of animals not to exceed six. Chapter 14 defines a 'large kennel' as any person or entity who owns, harbors, or keeps 10 or more dogs ...
Pasco County Code Sec. 14-100 requires that all dogs and cats over four months of age that are sold, adopted, transferred, or returned to an owner after stray impound be microchipped, with the owner registering the chip in a national registry and providing the number to Animal Services.
Pasco County, FL, Code of Ordinances ch. 14, art. II, div. 4, Sec. 14-100 (Microchip required), as amended by Ord. No. 24-23
Sec. 14-100. Microchip required. (a) All dogs and cats over the age of four months sold, adopted, transferred, or returned to owner after stray impound in the county shall have a radio frequency identification devise (RFID) (microchip) implanted prior to sale, adoption, transfer, or return to owner. The owner or custodian shall register the microchip with the national registry associated with t...
Pasco County Code Sec. 14-108 bans retail pet stores from selling, delivering, or giving away dogs, cats, or rabbits, and prohibits sales of these animals on public streets, rights-of-way, flea markets, parking lots, and open-air venues; rescue and shelter adoptions are exempt.
Pasco County, FL, Code of Ordinances ch. 14, art. II, div. 4, Sec. 14-108 (Prohibition on the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits), as amended by Ord. No. 24-23
Sec. 14-108. Prohibition on the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits. (a) Any retail establishment, including a pet store, as defined in this chapter, shall not sell, deliver, offer for sale, barter, auction, give away or otherwise transfer or dispose of a dog, cat, or rabbit. (b) Prohibition on retail sale in public places. (1) Any sale, barter, auction, or giving away of dogs, cats, or rabb...
3 cities in Pasco County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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