Animal Ordinances in St. Lucie County, FL (2026)
8 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in St. Lucie County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Chickens & Livestock
Florida's Right to Farm Act bars St. Lucie County from adopting any ordinance that restricts a bona fide farm operation, including keeping chickens, cattle or other livestock, on land classified agricultural once the operation follows state best-management practices. The county's own nuisance code recognizes this limit for AG-zoned and PUD parcels.
St. Lucie County Cannot Override State Farm Law
Few RestrictionsFla. Stat. § 823.14(6)
LIMITATION ON DUPLICATION OF GOVERNMENT REGULATION.—It is the intent of the Legislature to eliminate duplication of regulatory authority over farm operations as expressed in this subsection. Except as otherwise provided for in this section and s. 487.051(2), and notwithstanding any other provision of law, a local government may not adopt any ordinance, regulation, rule, or policy to prohibit, r...
Dog Leash Laws
St. Lucie County makes it unlawful for any owner to let an animal off the owner's private property unless it is under restraint, defined as secured by a leash or lead no longer than six feet. The rule exempts animals actively hunting and community cats, and violators face a citation and a fine.
St. Lucie County Requires Restraint Off Property
Some RestrictionsSt. Lucie County Code §§ 6-24, 6-19
Sec. 6-24. Restraint. It shall be unlawful for any owner to permit his animal to be off the owner's private property unless the animal is under restraint as defined herein or unless the animal is actively engaged in the sport of hunting. This section shall not apply to community cats as defined herein. ... Leash or lead means a cord, rope, chain, or similar device which holds an animal under re...
Breed Restrictions
St. Lucie County adopts Florida's dangerous-dog law by reference and runs its own classification, hearing and registration process on top of it. A dog can be declared dangerous for a single unprovoked bite or menacing chase, and owners face a strict enclosure, muzzle and certificate-of-registration regime once a classification stands.
St. Lucie County's Dangerous Dog Process Explained
Heavy RestrictionsSt. Lucie County Code § 6-23
(a)The provisions of F.S. §§ 767.10 through 767.14, and all subsequent amendments regulating dangerous dogs, as defined in F.S. § 767.11(1), are adopted by reference and incorporated herein and shall apply to the unincorporated areas of the county.(b)The annual fee for issuance of dangerous dog certificates of registration shall be established by resolution of the board of county commissioners....
Beekeeping
St. Lucie County cannot ban or zone honeybee colonies. Florida preempts beekeeping regulation to the state; hobbyist and commercial beekeepers register with the Department of Agriculture (FDACS) instead of the county.
Beekeeping regulated by the state, not the county
Some RestrictionsFla. Stat. 586.10
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.
Wildlife Feeding
Florida law, not a separate county ordinance, sets the penalty for feeding wildlife or freshwater fish in St. Lucie County: a first offense is a $100 noncriminal infraction under state statute, while the county's own nuisance code separately targets feeding that fouls the air with odor or creates a sanitary hazard.
Feeding Wildlife Costs $100 in St. Lucie County
Some RestrictionsFla. Stat. § 379.412
(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; or3.Allowing the placement of food or garbage in a manner that attracts or entices wildlife or freshwater fish.(2)A person who violates a p...
Cat Rules
Every cat four months or older kept in unincorporated St. Lucie County must carry a county registration tag, renewed yearly unless the cat is sterilized. Community cats, sterilized, vaccinated, ear-tipped and microchipped feral colony cats, are exempt from registration but can still be impounded if they become a nuisance.
Cat Registration Rules in St. Lucie County
Some RestrictionsSt. Lucie County Code § 6-51
Except as otherwise provided herein, it shall be unlawful for any person to own, keep, harbor, maintain, or have custody of any dog or cat four months or older, unless such dog or cat has been currently registered in accordance with the provisions of this article. This article shall not apply to community cats as defined herein.
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Any cat or dog adopted from a county-funded shelter or authorized adoption agency in St. Lucie County must be sterilized before release, or the adopter must sign a written agreement guaranteeing sterilization within 30 days or before sexual maturity, backed by a refundable deposit held until proof of surgery is provided.
St. Lucie County Requires Spay/Neuter at Adoption
Some RestrictionsSt. Lucie County Code § 6-28
Provision shall be made for the sterilization of cats and dogs released for adoption from the humane society or other duly authorized body, assigned as an adoption agency and funded by the county, by either providing sterilization by a licensed veterinarian before the humane society or adoption agency relinquishes custody of the animal or entering into a written agreement with the adopter guara...
Pet Store Rules
St. Lucie County requires an adoption-based model for every retail sale of a dog or cat: sellers may only source animals from an animal shelter or rescue organization, never directly or indirectly from a breeder, broker or wholesaler, and each animal must carry a signed certificate of source and veterinary inspection.
St. Lucie County Pet Stores: Adoption-Only Sales
Significant RestrictionsSt. Lucie County Code § 6-35
(a)An adoption-based business model shall be required for the retail sale of dogs or cats by a pet seller 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. A pet seller shall not offer for retail sale dogs or cats purchased directly from a breeder or a hobby breeder as defined in section 6-19, or ind...
Animal Ordinances by City in St. Lucie County
1 cities in St. Lucie County have their own animal ordinances rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All St. Lucie County ordinances
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