Fernandina Beach, Florida

June 20, 2017

No dog or cat shall be tethered unattended. In cases when tethering is permitted, requirements must be met with regard to materials used to restrain the animal; tethered animals must have access to water, shelter, and dry ground; animals may not be kept outside during specific weather scenarios, such as hurricanes and extreme temperatures.

Sec. 18- 4. – Owner to exercise care and control; standards of care; prohibition of tethering
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(e) Unlawful restraint of dogs and cats. No person shall tether, fasten, chain, tie, or restrain a dog or cat, or cause a dog or cat to be tethered, fastened, chained, tied, or restrained, to a dog house, tree, fence, or any other stationary object.
(f) Notwithstanding subsection (e) above, a person may do the following
(1) A dog or cat may be tethered when it is in visual range of the owner, and the owner is located outside with the tethered animal.
(2) Tether, fasten, chain, tie, or otherwise restrain a dog or cat pursuant to the requirements of a camping or recreational area.
(g) In all cases where tethering is permissible, the following conditions must all be met:
(1) The dog or cat must be attached to the tether by a buckle-type collar or a body harness. A dog or cat shall not be tethered by means of a choke- type, pinch-type, prong-type, or improperly fitting collar;
(2) The tether has the following properties: it is at least ten (10) feet in length; it terminates at both ends with a swivel; it does not weigh more than 10% of the tethered animal’s weight, and it is free of tangles;
(3) The dog or cat is tethered in such a manner as to prevent injury, strangulation, or entanglement,
(4) If there are multiple dogs or cats, each dog or cat must be tethered separately. The tethering of each dog or cat must be in accordance with the requirements of this Code;
(5) The dog or cat is not outside during a period of extreme weather, including without limitation extreme heat (over 85 degrees Fahrenheit) or cold temperatures (under 45 degrees Fahrenheit), thunderstorms, lightning storms, tornado watches or warnings, tropical storms, or hurricane watches or warnings;
(6) The dog or cat has access to water, adequate shelter, and dry ground;
(7) The dog or cat is at least six months of age. Puppies or kittens shall not be tethered;
(8) The dog or cat is not sick or injured; and
(9) No tether may extend any closer than six (6) feet from the perimeter fence or a lot line. If it is connected to a pulley, the running line must be at least fifteen (15) feet in length and less than seven (7) feet above the ground. If multiple dogs or cats, they must be tethered separately, with no sharing of running lines, or near enough to each other that they may become tangled. No animal shall be tethered so that it has access to public property, including easements and rights-of-way or property owned by another private individual or entity.
h) Penalties for violation of this section. The penalties for violation of this section are as follows: $100 citation for the first offense; $200 citation for the second offense; and $300 for the third offense. These fines apply to violations occurring within a five (5) year period. Appeals of citations shall be made in accordance with Section 2- 396 et seq. of this Code.