Animal Ordinances in Sarasota County, FL (2026)
6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Sarasota County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Dog Leash Laws
In unincorporated Sarasota County, dogs and cats cannot run loose on public streets, other people's property, or condominium and mobile-home-park common areas without a leash, per Sec. 14-41. Hunting dogs, on-duty police K-9s, and rural livestock dogs are exempt. A first at-large citation is forgiven if the pet is sterilized within ten business days; repeat offenses escalate sharply.
Sarasota County Leash Law for Dogs and Cats
Some RestrictionsSarasota County Code § 14-41(a)-(d)
(a)No person shall cause, permit, or allow a Dog or cat to stray or in any manner to run At Large, unless the Dog or cat is leashed, in any of the following circumstances:(1)Upon any public street, sidewalk, or other public property unless specifically allowed through other ordinance, resolution, or Board action;(2)The property of another;(3)Common areas of condominium, mobile home park, or oth...
Breed Restrictions
Sarasota County declares a dog or other animal Vicious based on its conduct, not its breed: aggressive bites, repeated attacks on other animals, dog-fighting use, menacing behavior, or a Chapter 767 Dangerous Dog certification under Sec. 14-40. Owners get seven days to contest a declaration, then face mandatory sterilization, microchipping, secure confinement and annual registration with Animal Services.
Sarasota County Vicious/Dangerous Dog Declaration Rules
Significant RestrictionsSarasota County Code § 14-40(a)
(a)The Animal Services Director shall make an initial determination that an Animal is a Vicious Animal based upon any of the criteria listed below:(1)Any Animal which aggressively bites, attacks, endangers or has inflicted severe injury on a human being on public or private property;(2)Any Animal which has more than once severely injured or killed a Domestic Animal while off the Owner's propert...
Exotic Pets
Sarasota County has banned possessing any wild animal, for sale or otherwise, unless it was born and raised in captivity, under Sec. 14-81, on the books since a 1973 ordinance. Zoos, scientific and educational institutions, and state-licensed wildlife rehabilitators are exempt. Unlike most Chapter 14 animal violations, breaking this rule is prosecuted as a criminal misdemeanor, not a civil citation.
Sarasota County Wild Animal Possession Ban
Heavy RestrictionsSarasota County Code § 14-81
(a)Possession of wild animals prohibited. No person shall have in his possession for sale or otherwise any wild animals unless same have been born and raised in captivity.(b)Exceptions. This section shall not apply to possession of wild animals in connection with zoological, scientific and educational endeavors where the persons in possession are qualified by education or experience, or license...
Cat Rules
Every cat four months or older in Sarasota County must be vaccinated against rabies, annually or every three years with a USDA-approved triennial vaccine, under Sec. 14-37. Only a Florida-licensed veterinarian may give the shot, and owners must carry a current County License Tag plus a signed vaccination certificate. A medical exemption is available with a vet's written certification.
Sarasota County Cat Rabies Vaccination Requirement
Some RestrictionsSarasota County Code § 14-37(a)
(a)All dogs, cats, and ferrets that are four months of age or older must be vaccinated for rabies in accordance with F.S. § 828.30, (1999), as may be amended. Dogs, cats, and ferrets shall be vaccinated annually for rabies. However, dogs and cats vaccinated by a veterinarian using a USDA-approved triennial vaccine are considered currently vaccinated for the entire three-year-period and will not...
Pet Store Rules
Sarasota County has banned the retail sale of dogs and cats from pet stores, flea markets and public thoroughfares since January 27, 2016. Sec. 14-53 exempts animal shelters, nonprofit welfare organizations and hobby breeders, and gave existing stores a one-year window to wind down floor-space sales. Violators face civil citations enforced by Code Enforcement and Animal Services.
Sarasota County Bans Retail Sale of Dogs and Cats
Heavy RestrictionsSarasota County Code § 14-53(a)-(b)
(a)Prohibitions. The following acts shall be a violation of this Article:(1)Any Retail Sale from a Commercial Establishment.(2)Any Public Thoroughfare, Public Common Area, or Flea Market Sale.(b)Exemptions. The following shall be exempt from the prohibitions in subsection (a) this section:(1)Animal Shelters.(2)Animal Welfare Organizations.(3)Hobby Breeders.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Sarasota County's Unified Development Code caps outdoor animal boarding, including a veterinary clinic's outdoor dog runs, at 50 dogs on land designated Rural or Semi-Rural, requires a 0.5-opacity landscaped buffer on every non-street lot line, and bars any brand-new outdoor boarding use inside the Urban Service Area.
Sarasota County Outdoor Animal Boarding Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsSarasota County UDC § 124-147(a)
(a)Outdoor animal boarding is permitted in accordance with this UDC, subject to the following standards:(1)A landscaped buffer with a minimum opacity of 0.5 shall be required on non-street property lines.(2)Outdoor animal boarding establishments shall board no more than 50 dogs for parcels located within an area designated as "Rural" or "Semi-Rural" on the Future Land Use Plan Map of the Compre...
Animal Ordinances by City in Sarasota County
2 cities in Sarasota County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Sarasota County ordinances
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