Animal Ordinances in Pasco County, FL (2026)
10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 3 cities in Pasco County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
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.
Backyard hens allowed (up to four); no roosters
Some RestrictionsPasco 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...
Dog Leash Laws
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.
Dogs must be under direct control; running at large banned
Some RestrictionsPasco 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 ...
Breed Restrictions
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.
No breed-specific bans; dangerous dogs regulated by behavior
Few RestrictionsFla. 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
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.
Pasco County Beekeeping Rules
Few RestrictionsFla. 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...
Wildlife Feeding
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.
animals/wildlife-feeding
Heavy RestrictionsFla. 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...
Pet Limits
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.
Up to three dogs and three cats on most residential lots
Some RestrictionsPasco 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 ...
Cat Rules
Pasco County requires every cat over four months old to wear a current county license tag proving rabies vaccination. Ear-tipped community cats in the county's Trap-Neuter-Return program are exempt from the tag requirement, so managed feral colonies can operate without individual licensing.
Cat License Tags Required in Pasco County
Some RestrictionsPasco County, FL, Code of Ordinances ch. 14, art. II, div. 4, Sec. 14-96 (License tags required)
Every person possessing, harboring, keeping, or having control or custody of a dog and/or cat over the age of four months shall secure a county license from a veterinarian or from the department and, as a condition of obtaining the license, shall show proof of a current rabies vaccination... All dogs and cats shall be required to wear a current Pasco County license tag at all times unless speci...
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Every dog and cat adopted from Pasco County Animal Services must be sterilized before leaving the shelter, or the adopter posts a deposit and has 30 days (180 for puppies and kittens) to get it done. Skipping the surgery forfeits the deposit and triggers a separate civil penalty.
Pasco County Requires Sterilizing Adopted Pets
Some RestrictionsPasco County, FL, Code of Ordinances ch. 14, art. II, div. 4, Sec. 14-99 (Sterilization upon adoption)
All dogs and cats adopted from the department shall either be sterilized prior to removal from the department or, at the discretion of the department, the owner may leave a deposit in an amount set forth by resolution, paid to the department guaranteeing that the adopted animal will be sterilized by a Florida licensed veterinarian within 30 days of the date of adoption or in the case of a puppy...
Microchipping
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.
Microchips required for dogs and cats over four months
Heavy RestrictionsPasco 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...
Pet Store Rules
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.
Retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits prohibited
Heavy RestrictionsPasco 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...
Animal Ordinances by City in Pasco County
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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