Animal Ordinances in Seminole County, FL (2026)
7 rules for unincorporated Seminole County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Dog Leash Laws
Seminole County requires every dog to be on a leash whenever it leaves the owner's property, and Section 20.17(b) presumes a dog is not under control if its leash runs longer than eight feet while near another animal or person. Dogs and other animals may not run at-large on public or private property without consent.
Seminole County Dog Leash and At-Large Rules
Some RestrictionsSeminole County Code Sec. 20.17(b)
(a)It is unlawful for any animal owner to allow, either willfully or through failure to exercise due care and control, the owner's animals to run at-large upon public property, unless the owner of such public property expressly authorizes such activity, or upon private property of others, including common areas of condominiums, cluster homes, planned unit developments, and community association...
Breed Restrictions
Seminole County has no breed-specific ban: Section 20.01 defines a dangerous dog by what an individual animal has done, tracking Florida Statutes Section 767.11, not by breed. Once the Animal Control Official or Special Magistrate declares a dog dangerous, Sections 20.24 through 20.28 require a secure pen, muzzle, warning signs and an annually renewed Dangerous Dog Certificate of Registration.
Seminole County's Dangerous Dog Rules Are Not Breed-Based
Significant RestrictionsSeminole County Code Sec. 20.01; Secs. 20.24-20.28
Dangerous dog: A dog defined as dangerous in Section 767.11, Florida Statutes (2021), as this statute may be amended from time to time, or that has been declared dangerous by the Animal Control Official or the Special Magistrate. Dogs that have been declared dangerous by another jurisdiction are also considered to be dangerous dogs in Seminole County. If a declared dangerous dog is found at-lar...
Beekeeping
Seminole County cannot regulate registered honeybee colonies. Florida Statute 586.10 preempts beekeeping regulation to the state Department of Agriculture, so you register hives with the state rather than the county.
Beekeeping Rules in Seminole County
Some RestrictionsFS 586.10(1)
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.
Exotic Pets
Seminole County defines dangerous animals as non-domesticated species that pose a hazard by nature, training or size, from bears and big cats to venomous reptiles and alligators, and Section 20.23 requires owners to keep them caged or securely restrained at all times. Violating the confinement rule is a misdemeanor.
Seminole County Confinement Rules for Dangerous Animals
Some RestrictionsSeminole County Code Sec. 20.23
(a)The owner of any dangerous animal shall confine such animal within a building, cage or other secure enclosure and shall not take such animal from the building, cage, or secure enclosure unless such animal is securely leashed, tethered, chained, muzzled, anesthetized, or otherwise restrained so as to protect persons and other animals. This Section does not apply to law enforcement or rescue a...
Wildlife Feeding
Seminole County bans intentionally or unintentionally feeding bears anywhere in the county, public or private property alike. Leaving trash, pet food or other attractants where they would lure a bear counts as a violation, with civil penalties up to $200 per offense per day under Chapter 258.
Feeding Bears Is Prohibited in Seminole County
Significant RestrictionsSeminole County Code Sec. 258.7 and Sec. 258.9
No Person shall intentionally or unintentionally feed or provide food to bears in any manner on any public or private property within Seminole County. A Person will be considered in violation of this Ordinance if the Person leaves or stores any Attractant in a manner that creates, or would reasonably be expected to create, a lure or enticement for bears. ... Violations of this Ordinance are cla...
Cat Rules
Seminole County limits how long a dog or cat may be tied to a fixed-point restraining device: never between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. except one supervised hour, never under six months old, and never during lightning, hurricane, or extreme heat or cold. Community cats fed under a county-recognized TNVR program are exempt from licensing entirely.
Seminole County Cat and Dog Tethering Rules
Some RestrictionsSeminole County Code Sec. 20.39
(a)A fixed-point restraining device is hereby defined as a trolley system, chain, cord, leash, cable, or similar device attached to one or more fixed points, including a house, tree, fence, post, garage or shed, used to confine a dog or cat to the owner's property. The device must be a minimum of ten feet in length...(b)A fixed-point restraining device must not be used to confine a dog or cat o...
Pet Store Rules
Seminole County bans commercial puppy mill sourcing: Section 20.182 requires every pet shop selling dogs or cats to source them only from an animal shelter or animal rescue organization, and Section 20.183 separately bars any retail dog or cat sale in a public place like a flea market, parking lot or median.
Seminole County Requires Adoption-Only Pet Store Sales
Significant RestrictionsSeminole County Code Sec. 20.182; Sec. 20.183
(a)An adoption-based business model shall be required for the retail sale of dogs or cats at a pet shop whereby all dogs or cats will be sourced from stray and unwanted pets that have been taken in by an animal shelter or animal rescue organization. It also means that pets purchased directly from a commercial breeder or indirectly through some other intermediary such as a broker or wholesaler m...
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