6-20: Public Nuisance Prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any owner to permit his animal to become a public nuisance or for any individual to create a public nuisance as defined herein.

Public nuisance means:

(1) Any animal which:

a. Attacks passersby or passing vehicles without provocation.

b. Attacks any other animal.

c. Is repeatedly at large and not under restraint.

d. Damages private or public property.

e. Repetitively barks, whines, howls, chirps, caws, or whistles for a period of five minutes or more so as to disturb adjacent residents, except the for animals located on property zoned AG-1, AG-2.5, AG-5, AR-1 with agricultural classification pursuant to F.S. § 193.461, or PUD where livestock is permitted;

f. Causes an annoyance in the neighborhood by acts such as overturning garbage cans, defecating, digging holes on other than its owner's property, or such other acts as are generally regarded to create an annoyance.

(2) Any activity, such as, but not limited to, the feeding of wild animals or fowl which:

a. Causes the fouling of the air by odor and thereby creates unreasonable annoyance or discomfort to those in close proximity to the premises where the animals or fowl congregate; or

b. Causes a sanitary nuisance as defined in F.S. § 386.01.

Citations for violation of Ordinance 6-20

1stOffense	2ndOffense	Habitual Offender	Additional Information
$100 per animal in violation	$200 per animal in violation	Mandatory Court Appearance	Violation may be a citable offense every day that you are found in non-compliance

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.

Under restraint means any animal secured by a leash or lead.

Citations for violation of Ordinance 6-24

1stOffense	2ndOffense	Habitual Offender	Additional Information
$100 per animal in violation	$200 per animal in violation	Mandatory Court Appearance	Violation may be a citable offense every day that you are found in non-compliance

6-27: Duty of Owners To Have Dogs, Cats and Ferrets Vaccinated Against Rabies.

(a) Every dog, cat or ferret four months of age or over must be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian with a federally approved vaccine. Evidence of current vaccination against rabies shall be retained by the owner of said dog, cat or ferret and made available, upon request, to any officer or health department investigator. Any certificate must contain the date of vaccination and sufficient information for the identification of the dog, cat or ferret.

Citations for violation of Ordinance 6-27

1stOffense	2ndOffense	Habitual Offender	Additional Information
$150 per animal in violation	$300 per animal in violation	Mandatory Court Appearance	Violation may be a citable offense every day that you are found in non-compliance

6-51: Registration Required. 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.

Citations for violation of Ordinance 6-51

1stOffense	2ndOffense	Habitual Offender	Additional Information
$100 per animal in violation	$200 per animal in violation	Mandatory Court Appearance	Violation may be a citable offense every day that you are found in non-compliance

6-52: Issuance of Animal Registration/Identification Tags. Additional registration requirements

(a) All owners or custodians of dogs and cats in the unincorporated areas of the county shall obtain a county registration/identification tag for each dog and cat by the age of four months that they own, keep, harbor, maintain, or have in custody as follows:

(1) Within 30 days of acquiring the dog or cat; or

(2) Within 30 days after the owner or custodian takes residence in the unincorporated areas of the county, whichever occurs later.

(b) Except as provided herein, registration/identification tags should be securely fastened about the animal's neck by a collar or other device so as to be clearly visible at all times. A vaccination certificate and, if applicable, a sterilization certificate issued by a veterinarian must accompany all applications for a county registration/identification tag.

(c) The registration/identification tag shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance or date of the rabies vaccination, whichever is earlier, for unsterilized animals. A separate tag shall be valid for the lifespan of sterilized animals.

(e) No registration/identification tag shall be transferable from one animal to another nor from one owner to another. Upon transfer of a previously registered animal to a new owner or custodian, the new owner or custodian shall have a period of 30 days within which to comply with the requirements of this article.

There are no citations cited under this section. 

6-26: Animal Care(a)(k). Basic Care, Shelter & Outdoor Enclosures

(a)  Must provide sufficient fresh food and water at all times daily; animals kept in enclosures must be provided sufficient daily exercise; must provide shelter from the weather, and clean living quarters; provide medical attention for sickly, diseased, or injured animals; animals must be inoculated against rabies. Dogs, cats, and small domestic animals shall not be kept outside in crates, whether metal, wood, plastic or other materials. Dogs, cats and small domestic animals may be kept outside in a fenced enclosure if the enclosure contains a shelter which meets the following requirements:

(1) Provides adequate protection from the cold and heat;

(2) Provides protection from the direct effect of the sun, wind and rain;

(3) Provides a solid roof and a wind and rain break;

(4) Contains clean and dry bedding material;

(5) Elevated a minimum of six inches from the ground;

(6) Provides sufficient space for each animal to comfortably stand up, sit down, lie down and turn around in the shelter. If the shelter is used for more than one animal at the same time, it must provide enough space for each animal to comfortably stand up, sit down, lie down, and turn around simultaneously; 

(7) Provides ingress and egress for the animal to enter and exit the shelter at all times.

(k) Any dog left unattended in an outdoor enclosure shall be provided a minimum of open space, excluding the shelter(s) within the enclosure, based upon the dog's size as set forth below:

(1) Twenty pounds or less (small): Thirty-two square feet.

(2) Twenty-one to 50 pounds (medium): Sixty square feet.

(3) Over 50 pounds (large): Eighty square feet.

An additional 16 square feet shall be required for each additional dog kept in the same enclosed area. Each dog shall be provided sufficient shelter within the enclosed area as set forth above in subsection 6-26(a). Any enclosed area where a dog is confined shall be kept free of objects that may injure the dog and shall be cleaned regularly to remove feces. Dogs on residentially zoned property shall not be maintained outdoors during periods of extreme weather.

Extreme weather for the purposes of this chapter shall include but not be limited to the following conditions:

(1) Hurricane;

(2) Tropical storm;

(3) Above 85 degrees Fahrenheit with a heat index of 100 degrees heat index; or

(4) Below 40 degrees Fahrenheit with a 35 degrees wind chill factor.

Citations for violation of Ordinance 6-26(a)(k)

1stOffense	2ndOffense	Habitual Offender	Additional Information
$400 per animal in violation	Mandatory Court Appearance	Mandatory Court Appearance	Violation may be a citable offense every day that you are found in non-compliance

6-26(e)(l)(m): Transport In Vehicles

(e) It shall be unlawful for any operator of a motor vehicle to allow an animal to ride in any unenclosed section of that vehicle without enclosing the animal in a cage that is secured to the vehicle or securing the animal with a restraining device that will not permit the animal to reach the outside perimeter of the vehicle.

(l) The transportation of animals in vehicles shall be subject to the following requirements:

(1) No person shall transport or carry any dog or other animal in a motor vehicle unless the animal is safely enclosed within the vehicle.

(2) If a person's only means to transport an animal is in an unenclosed or partially enclosed vehicle, including but not limited to convertibles, pick-up trucks, and flatbed trucks, the person shall confine the animal in a container, cage, or with a harness with double tethering that is of proper and adequate size to prevent the animal from falling from or jumping from the motor vehicle.

(3) If a container or cage is used, it must be securely fastened so as to prevent the container or cage from moving in the motor vehicle. 

(m) A person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall not permit an animal to remain unattended in a vehicle when the motor vehicle is out of the person's sight and under circumstances which endanger the health, safety or welfare of the animal.

Citations for violation of Ordinance 6-26(m)

1stOffense	2ndOffense	Habitual Offender	Additional Information
$400 per animal in violation	Mandatory Court Appearance	Mandatory Court Appearance	Violation may be a citable offense every day that you are found in non-compliance

6-26(j): Tethering

(j) No animal shall be tethered unless all of the following provisions are met:

(1) Animals younger than six months old, older than seven years, or ill shall not be tethered.

(2) The length and weight of the tether shall be appropriate for the animal breed and shall be a minimum of ten feet long or four times the length of the animal (measured from tip of nose to base of tail), whichever is greater.

(3) The tether must have swivels at both ends of the rope, chain or similar restraint for holding an animal in place, allowing a short radius in which it can move about and not become tangled.

(4) Prong, choke or chain collars are prohibited in the use of tethering animal.

(5) Area which the animal may reach while tethered shall be free of entanglements.

(6) The length and location of the tether must not allow the animal to reach a fence or neighboring property.

(7) Collar weight shall be appropriate for the animal as determined by a reasonable person.

(8) A responsible person must be outside and within view of the animal at all times while tethered.

(9) A trolley system is permitted.

(10) An animal may not be tethered in extreme weather, including but not limited to hurricanes, tropical storms or tornados.

(11) The animal shall have access to a dry and raised area at all times.

 

Citations for violation of Ordinance 6-26(j)

1stOffense	2ndOffense	Habitual Offender	Additional Information
$400 per animal in violation	Mandatory Court Appearance	Mandatory Court Appearance	Violation may be a citable offense every day that you are found in non-compliance

 

7.10.03. - Animals in Residential Districts.

No animals shall be kept in any residential district except those animals generally recognized as household pets, such as dogs, cats, caged birds, etc. In any residential district, no more than a total of five (5) dogs and/or cats four (4) months or older shall be allowed for each dwelling unit.

Sec. 32-2. - Dogs Prohibited on North Beach. & Sec. 32-96. - Beaches.

Dogs Prohibited: Dogs are prohibited from and are not allowed on North Beach from the dune line to the water between Pepper Park and the North Jetty.

Pet Friendly Beaches: The two “Pet Friendly” beaches in St. Lucie County are Walton Rocks Beach and Wild Cat Cove which allows a maximum of three dogs per person. Dogs are allowed to be off leash unless they are being a nuisance. If they are being a nuisance, they would have to be placed on a leash to not exceed eight feet in length and held or controlled by a person. Owners must immediately remove any fecal matter deposited by their dogs and either take it home or dispose of in the proper receptacles. Each dog must have a current rabies inoculation tag affixed to its collar evidencing the dogs has been properly inoculated against rabies.

Penalties: Owners that allow their dog(s) to cause a public nuisance, who do not have their dog(s) under restraint, or do not pick up after their dog(s) can be cited for each of the County Ordinance violations for each dog under their control.