Is it against the law in Florida to leave your pet chained outside? What the Law Says Is This

As of February 2025, Florida does not have a statewide law that explicitly prohibits leaving pets chained outside. However, the situation is more nuanced, with several important considerations:

County and City Ordinances

Many Florida counties and cities have enacted their own ordinances regarding pet tethering:

• Seminole County prohibits dogs from being chained continuously for more than one hour between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
• Pompano Beach has banned chaining or tethering dogs outdoors as a method of confinement
• Miami-Dade County prohibits chaining or tethering an unattended dog
• Daytona Beach restricts tethering with specific conditions for humane tethering

State Legislative Efforts

While there is no current statewide ban, there have been attempts to introduce legislation:

• In 2019, a bill (SB 522) was proposed that would have made it a criminal offense to leave a dog outside and unattended during severe weather, but it did not pass
• As of 2021, another bill (SB 650) was introduced proposing restrictions on tethering, but it has not become law

Animal Cruelty Laws

While not specifically addressing tethering, Florida’s animal cruelty laws can be applied in cases where tethering leads to neglect or harm:

• Leaving an animal in a situation that endangers its health or safety can be considered animal cruelty
• Penalties for animal cruelty can include fines and imprisonment

Best Practices

Even where not explicitly illegal, animal welfare organizations and many local authorities discourage long-term tethering:

• If tethering is necessary, it should be for short periods with proper shelter, food, and water provided
• The tether should be at least five times the length of the dog and allow access to shade and shelter
• Dogs under six months old should not be tethered at all

While Florida does not have a statewide ban on leaving pets chained outside, many local jurisdictions do restrict or prohibit the practice. Pet owners should check their local ordinances and prioritize their pets’ safety and well-being, regardless of specific legal requirements.

Sources

1. https://www.peta.org/blog/new-florida-law-chain/
2. https://www.peta.org/issues/animal-companion-issues/ordinances/pompano-beach-florida/
3. https://www.fomapets.org/blog/is-it-illegal-to-chain-your-dog-outside/
4. https://www.daytonabeach.gov/1162/Animal-Tethering
5. https://www.akc.org/legislative-alerts/florida-bill-criminalizes-allowing-dogs-outside-numerous-conditions-vote-tuesday-12-10-19/