Animal Laws

This section summarizes the most important Chapter 4 laws that Broward County cat and dog owners should know.

Violations of these laws can lead to a written citation or impoundment of your pet!!

For a complete copy of Chapter 4 of the Broward County Ordinance regarding Animals see Chapter 4 Ordinance (.pdf). 

Please Note: In addition, we strongly recommend that you check with your city’s Code Enforcement Department for specific Animal Laws in your community.

• Animals "At Large" – The Lease Law: Section 4-3
• Nuisance Animals: Section 4-4
• Impoundment: Section 4-5
• Confinement During Heat: Section 4-6
• Permitting an Animal to Commit a Nuisance: Section 4-8
• Rabies Vaccination for Cats and Dogs: Section 4-10
• Broward County License for Cats and Dogs: Section 4-11
• Dangerous Dogs: Section 4-12
• Guard Dogs: Section 4-13 
• Cruelty and Fighting Animals: Sections 4-17 and 4-20
• Abandonment of Animals: Section 4-19 
• Harboring of Stray Animals: Section 4-23 
• Animals in Vehicles: Section 4-32

The term “at large” means that your pet is not confined or somehow controlled. See the information below for how this law applies to your pet cat or dog.

Dogs

It is against the law for any person to permit their dog to be at large. In the case of dogs, this means that the dog MUST BE under the physical, direct control of a person by means of one of the following:

• Leash
• Cord
• Chain
• Confined to the property of its owner by means of a fence

NOTE: It is against the law to tie, chain or tether a dog so that it has access to public property or the property of another person.

Cats

There is no leash law for cats because they are considered free-roaming animals.  However, a property owner does have the legal right to humanely trap or catch any nuisance cats on their property.

Enforcement of the Leash Law

An officer may seize any dog that is at large and impound it at a Broward County Animal Care and Regulation shelter. An officer may also issue a citation to the pet owner.

A property owner does have the legal right to humanely catch or trap a nuisance cat or dog on their property and bring that animal to Broward County Animal Care and Regulation.

A property owner also has the right to contact Broward County Animal Care and Regulation to remove the animal from their property.

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The word “impoundment” means that your cat or dog has been confiscated/taken by a Broward County Animal Care Officer or law enforcement officer and has been brought to one of the Broward County Animal Care and Regulation shelters, located in Fort Lauderdale or Pompano Beach.

When a cat or dog is impounded without identification (such as a County license, tattoo, ID tag or microchip), Broward County Animal Care and Regulation will hold the animal for at least three days (72 hours), not including legal holidays. During this holding period, Animal Care will make a reasonable effort to determine the pet’s owner and notify them.

When a cat or dog is impounded with some sort of identification, Animal Care will hold the cat or dog for at least five days (120 hours), not including legal holidays. During this holding period, Animal Care will make a reasonable effort to notify the owner so they can pick up their cat or dog at the shelter.

NOTE: In all cases, the pet owner has the primary responsibility for locating their impounded pet!

Confinement During Heat: Section 4-6

A pet owner must confine their unspayed (unsterilized) female cat or dog that is in heat (estrus) in a house, building or secure enclosure so that a male cat or dog cannot gain access.

Permitting an Animal to Commit a Nuisance: Section 4-8

It is against the law for any person to allow a cat or dog to defecate (go to the bathroom) at any of the following places:

• The sidewalk of any public street, park, beach or school ground or other designated area
• Any private property not belonging to the pet owner, unless the person makes an immediate effort to remove any feces/mess left by the pet
• Any swale or street right-of-way that deposits water to a canal, lake or other water way unless the person makes an immediate effort to remove any feces/mess left by the pet

Further, an owner cannot leave a pet in unsanitary conditions that may cause offensive odors as this is dangerous to the pet and to public health.

It is also against the law for a cat or dog to be allowed to habitually do the following:

• Bark
• Howl
• Whine
• Damage the property of another person

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ALL cats and dogs four months and older must be vaccinated against rabies every year by a licensed veterinarian (or every three years if a three-year rabies vaccination was given). The law provides exceptions when:

The cat or dog has been vaccinated against rabies within the past 12 months by a licensed veterinarian

A licensed veterinarian certifies in writing that a vaccination would be harmful to the pet’s health. If so, the pet must be vaccinated against rabies as soon as its health permits.

Every cat or dog in Broward County must have and wear a county license. This is to protect your pet in case it becomes lost or stolen!!!

A pet owner must purchase the license if the cat or dog is four (4) months of age or older. The owner must purchase a new Broward County license on the anniversary of the pet’s rabies vaccination (every year if the pet received a one-year rabies vaccination OR every three years if the pet received a three-year vaccination).

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A “Dangerous Dog” is a dog that has done the following:

• A dog that when unprovoked approaches a person in a menacing fashion or with an attack attitude.
• A dog that has killed or caused the death of a domestic animal in one incident, while off the owner’s or keeper’s property.
• Has aggressively bitten, attacked, endangered, killed or inflicted severe injury on a human being on public or private property.
• Has been used primarily or in part for the purpose of dog fighting.

If a dog – whether or not the dog has been classified as “dangerous” -- causes severe injury or death to a person OR domestic animal while unprovoked and off the owner’s property, an Animal Care Officer will impound the dog. Written notice will be given to the owner and after ten (10) business days from the date of notification, the dog will be humanely euthanized.

A “Guard Dog” is a dog trained to defend, patrol or protect the property of a COMMERICAL ESTABLISHMENT.

All service companies that train, sell, rent, lease or loan Guard Dogs to businesses are required to have their dogs specially registered with Broward County Animal Care and Regulation as a Guard Dog.

There are also special requirements regarding the use, transporting and containment of such dogs. Please contact Broward County Animal Care and Regulation for more information and details at 954-359-1313 ext. 2473.

Cruelty and Fighting Animals: Sections 4-17 and 4-20

It is against the law for any person to do any of the following to an animal:

• Beat
• Ill-Treat
• Torment
• Overload
• Overwork
• Abuse
• Intentionally mutilate or inhumanely kill
• Fight animals
• Maintain a location where animals will fight
• Neglecting to provide fresh, clean water, shelter from elements and clean living conditions.
• Neglecting to provide a long enough tether (if tied) or large enough crate (if caged)
• Neglecting to provide proper veterinary care when necessary

Enforcement of the Cruelty and Fighting Animals Ordinances

Violation of Sections 4-17 and 4-20 are serious offenses. For such violations, a Broward County Animal Care and Regulation Officer can seize the animals and issue a citation.

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It is against the law to willfully abandon an animal for more than a day (24 hours) without providing food, water, proper shelter and protection from the weather. It is also against the law not to provide an animal with necessary veterinary care.

A person cannot harbor any stray animal unless it is reported to Animal Care and Regulation within 48 hours of finding the animal. Once notified, Animal Care may take the animal and place it in the shelter. Refusal to surrender the animal may result in an additional violation of this ordinance.

Animals in Vehicles: Section 4-32

It is against the law to leave an animal in a motor vehicle without adequate ventilation or expose your pet to extremes of heat or cold.

An Animal Care Officer may remove and impound your pet from a vehicle if its safety appears to be in immediate danger. The Officer is authorized to take all steps reasonably necessary to remove your pet, including but not limited to, breaking into the vehicle. Neither the Officer nor the County will be liable for any damage to your vehicle in order to rescue your pet.

In addition, you cannot transport your pet in a motor vehicle unless it is safely enclosed within the vehicle. If you travel in an unenclosed vehicle (such as a convertible, pick-up, or flat-bed truck), you must confine your pet in a ventilated container, cage or other device that will prevent it from falling or jumping from the motor vehicle. The container or cage must be anchored to the vehicle to prevent its jostling or falling out.

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