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Miami Dade County: Dog's Regulations & Laws
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Code Section Dogs:

5-7 RABIES LAW:

Your dog must be vaccinated by a Florida licensed veterinarian when it reaches four (4) months of
age. Your dog must be vaccinated again no later than every twelve (12) months thereafter. The fine
for failing to comply with this requirement is $50 (plus a $10.00 surcharge).

5-8 LICENSE LAW:

You must obtain, and your dog must wear, a Miami-Dade County rabies license tag within thirty (30)
days of it becoming four (4) months of age. You must obtain a new license each year during the
month in which you first vaccinated your dog. For example, if you vaccinated your dog in the month of
June, you are required to purchase a new license tag each June. Failure to comply: $150.00 fine for
un-sterilized dogs (plus a $10.00 surcharge) , $50.00 fine for sterilized dogs (plus a $10.00
surcharge).

5-6a, 5-6c LEASH LAW:

Your dog is not permitted to roam free off your private property. When your dog is off your property,
it must be leashed at all times. Running at large: $150.00 fine for an un-sterilized dog (plus a $10.00
surcharge), $50.00 fine for sterilized dogs (plus a $10.00 surcharge).

5-6.1 PUBLIC NUISANCE:

You must exercise proper care and control of your dog. It is creating a public nuisance when it chases
vehicles or persons,, or when it trespasses or causes damage to another person’s private property,
or on public property. Public Nuisance: $50.00 fine.

5-2.5 CRUELTY LAW:

The following common conditions, and any others listed which result in inhumane treatment of an
animal is considered acts of cruelty. Cruelty: $500.00 fine (plus a $10.00 surcharge) and/or
imprisonment for up to 60 days.
- Cruelty beating or inhumanely killing an animal.
- No water, or unclean water.
- No food, or unwholesome food.
- No shelter, or insufficient shelter.
- Short leash, or inability of the animal to get proper exercise or exchange of air.
- Failure to properly treat an animal for debilitating medical conditions.

5-17 PIT BULL LAW:

It is illegal in Miami-Dade County to own any dog which substantially conforms to a pit bull breed dog,
unless it was specially registered with Miami-Dade County prior to 1989. Acquisition or keeping of a
pit bull dog: $500.00 fine and County Court action to force the removal of the animal from Miami-Dade
County.
ONLY AN ANIMAL SERVICES INVESTIGATOR TRAINED IN PIT BULL IDENTIFICATION WILL
DETERMINE IF THE DOG CONFORMS TO PIT BULL BREED STANDARDS.

MIAMI BEACH ORDINANCE # 94-2906

Ordinance # 94-2906 requires that any person owning or having the care of any animal shall
immediately remove and dispose any fecal matter.

Penalties for violation of the “Pooper Scooper” law will include a $50 fine for the first offense and
$200 for each additional offense per calendar year. This does not apply to blind persons
accompanied by a dog used for their assistance.