Jacksonville, Florida

Sec. 462.502. – Vaccination, registration and licensing required.

(g) Within 30 days of arrival in the City as a new resident, the animal owner shall obtain a City license tag from ACPS, or one of its authorized license tag agents, as designated in writing by the Chief of ACPS for any animals vaccinated outside the City. To receive a license tag, the owner shall present a copy of the completed form and payment of a license tag fee, in accordance with the ACPS’s licensing fee schedule and in the amount established for each animal, depending on whether it has been spayed or neutered, except that the following shall not be required to pay the license tag fees. Licenses issued for no fee in accordance with the exemptions provided below shall require documentation by the pet owner of the applicable exemption claimed, they shall be required to sign a form attesting to the exemption and required to show affirmative proof of the exemption (that must be copied and provided to ACPS) or they will be charged for the license. People who feel they are exempt but had to pay for the license at the veterinarian may request a refund through ACPS with proper documentation and signing appropriate forms. The following limited exemptions apply:

(1) Military and/or law enforcement canines used for official duties – including but not limited, to K-9 Patrol Units, drug/contraband sniffing dogs, search dogs, and attack dogs;

(2) Service dogs as defined in the final rule of the Department of Justice [28 CFR Part 35, CRT Docket No. 105, AG Order Number RIN 1190-AA46] shall be exempt from the fee requirement for City licenses provided the person applying for a free license completes a signed statement that the provisions of this rule are met by the exempted pet. Falsification of such documentation shall be subject to a $500 fine.

(3) An owner who is 62 years of age or older, or totally disabled, as determined by the Social Security Administration, for up to three animals, upon proper written and photo documentation.

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(i) The owner is responsible for obtaining a replacement tag if the City license tag is lost or destroyed. A replacement tag may be obtained from ACPS upon payment by the owner of the applicable replacement fee. If the owner has not applied for a City license tag for such animal within the 30 day period set forth in this subsection, the owner shall be required to pay an additional late fee per animal not licensed.

(j) Fees collected from the sale of City pet licenses shall be distributed for administration of the licensing program to cover actual costs expended. The remainder of the funds shall be allocated to the Spay and Neuter Trust Fund and the Veterinary Services Trust Fund.

Sec. 462.603. – Redemption by owner.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Chapter, the owner of any impounded animal may redeem the animal, upon payment to the City of the following:

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(5) The cost of sterilization or a sterilization deposit, as applicable;

Sec. 462.605. – Adoption.

(a) A person adopting an animal from ACPS shall pay an adoption fee, which shall include the cost of sterilization or a $500 deposit, in accordance with Section 462.608. In addition to the adoption fee, the adopter shall pay the cost of license and registration.

Sec. 462.608. – Sterilization.

Except as otherwise provided in this Part, all dogs and cats redeemed or adopted from ACPS shall be sterilized by a veterinarian before redemption or adoption, except when a veterinarian determines that sterilization would endanger the animal’s health due to its age, infirmity, disability or illness. In such case, the owner or adopter shall sign a written agreement that sterilization shall be performed as soon as health permits, and in the case of kittens and puppies, by eight weeks of age. In addition, if, at the discretion of ACPS, the owner or adopter chooses to have another veterinarian perform the sterilization, he or she shall pay a deposit in the amount of $500 to ACPS as a condition of the agreement to sterilize, which deposit shall be refundable upon presenting to ACPS signed, written verification on letterhead with the veterinarian’s license number noted by the veterinarian who performed the sterilization that the animal has been sterilized within 30 days of redemption or adoption. If the owner cannot afford the deposit and can make arrangements for the immediate sterilization of the pet through a veterinarian of their choice within Duval County, ACPS will transport or may arrange transportation for the animal directly to the veterinary clinic where it will remain until it is sterilized. Deposits shall be forfeited on the thirty-first day if proper verification of sterilization or a confirmable appointment for sterilization is not provided, or ten days following the scheduled appointment if proof of sterilization is not provided, and the funds shall be deposited in the Spay Neuter Trust Fund to be used for sterilization of pets.

Animal owners that have a current City license and permanent identification in the form of a registered microchip ID (RFID) or attached City license tag, shall be exempt from the above provision regarding sterilization for the first impound of the animal provided the identification is accurate to allow ACPS to identify its owner. Other valid permanent identification may also be used provided ACPS can easily identify the owner and a current City license is on file with the owner’s information. Determination of the first impound shall be based upon the available records of ACPS. In addition to the one-time exemption provided at no additional charge, an owner can request the release of the animal one additional time upon payment of a fee of $500, to be deposited in the Spay and Neuter Trust Fund; however, any future impound/intake of the same animal shall result in sterilization before reclaim.

For the purposes of controlling pet overpopulation and ensuring all animals redeemed or adopted from ACPS are sterilized in an expeditious manner, the City of Jacksonville shall be considered the legal owner of: all stray dogs that remain in the shelter three days after intake/impound (i.e. on the fourth day sterilization may take place) unless positive, traceable ownership may be indicated by a registered microchip, City tag or private id tag; and, all stray cats upon intake/impound unless positive, traceable ownership may be indicated by a registered microchip, City tag, other form of traceable permanent identification, or private identification tag. ACPS is hereby authorized to perform sterilization procedures on any animal anytime after it becomes City property. Such ownership provisions shall not affect the holding periods established in Section 462.601.

Sec. 462.703. – Sterilization Programs.

(a) It is the intent of the City to provide program(s) to promote the sterilization of companion animals as one of the important parts of a comprehensive program to reduce pet overpopulation and the growing intake by area pet shelters.

(b) The Chief of ACPS shall be responsible for the creation and administration of low cost sterilization programs for people with limited means who could not otherwise afford the procedure and any other programs that help reduce pet overpopulation and growing animal intake in area shelters. Such programs may include reimbursement rates for participating veterinarians based upon a fee schedule established by the Chief of ACPS that may be amended from time to time and shall be on file with the Legislative Services Division. Funding for such programs shall include money from licenses as designated in Section 462.502(g).

(c) The Chief of ACPS is authorized to seek and accept grants, donations and other public and private funding to assist in the payment of sterilization programs.

PART 11. – HOBBY BREEDERS AND CASUAL SELLERS

Sec. 462.1101. – Definitions.

(a) Hobby Breeder means any person, business, organization or corporation that is not covered under Part 10 (Pet Shops and Animal Dealers), that breeds dogs, cats, puppies or kittens and whose primary source of income is not derived from the sale of animals who may sell, trade, exchange or otherwise place up to 20 unsterilized animals (the individual litter that brings the total offspring born to 20 or more meets the requirement of the 20 animal maximum) per calendar year provided that the litters are registered with ACPS. Registration shall be in the form of a letter stating when the litter was born and the number of animals in the litter.

(b) Health Certificate mean “Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (OCVI)” [Form DACS-09085, in accordance with F.S. § 828.29] issued by a Florida licensed veterinarian accredited by the U.S.D.A.

(c) Occasional selling means any selling, trading or giving away of an animal or a litter of puppies, kittens, or other animals, that is on a random unsystematic basis and that does not exceed the selling, trading or giving away of a total of up to (the litter that brings the total to ten offspring born sale meet the requirement of the 10 animal maximum if the animals are being bred) in any calendar year.

Sec. 462.1102. – Health Certificates Required.

(a) The owner of any cat or dog that is sold or exchanged for valuable consideration between private parties is required to provide to the new owner a current, valid OCVI Health Certificate with each animal at the time the animal is offered and a copy of the Health Certificate must be provided at the time of exchange.

(b) All dogs and cats offered for sale or exchange for valuable consideration must have valid, current OCVI Health Certificates at the time they are offered for sale. These certificates must be presented to any animal control officer upon demand for review.

(c) All unsterilized dogs and cats that are given away or exchanged at an arms-length transaction must also have current, valid OCVI Health Certificates at the time offered and the certificate must be transferred with the animal. These certificates must be presented to any animal control officer upon demand for review.

(d) Violations of this Section are subject to a fine of not less than the amount designated in Chapter 462, Part 18. Each animal not in compliance with this Section shall be considered a separate infraction and violation of this Section.

(e) Animal shelters and rescue groups offering animals for adoption are exempt from the provisions of this Section. To qualify for the exemption, a rescue group must be a not for profit organized (or operating as an agent of an organization) under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code with the express mission/business function of adopting sterilized homeless and unwanted animals. A copy of the I.R.S. letter of designation shall be provided to ACPS upon request.

Sec. 462.1103. – Hobby Breeder and Occasional Seller Permits.

All permits issued under this Section shall require verifiable proof that all required animals are current on rabies vaccination and licensing. Since such information is exempt from public records disclosure in accordance with F.S. § 828.30(5), such information shall not be disclosed to the general public consistent with and pursuant to that exemption. Hobby Breeder and/or Occasional Seller permits are limited to one per person, entity, corporation and location. If two or more hobby breeders and/or occasional sellers occupy one location or if any hobby breeder and/or occasional occupies or operates more than one location only one hobby breeder permit and/or occasional seller permit, in aggregate, shall be issued. If multiple locations are to be used or if multiple people are breeding in a location a Pet Shop and Animal Dealer permit may be required.

(a) Hobby Breeder Permit Required. A hobby breeder shall be person, entity or corporation not qualified as a pet dealer whose primary source of income is not derived from the breeding and/or sale of animals. ACPS shall issue, at no charge for a breeder that owns 30 or fewer unsterilized animals one year of age or older (if more than 30 are owned a per animal fee may be charged as found in www.coj.net/fees – there shall be no maximum number of animals established), an initial and subsequent renewal annual hobby breeder permit upon application by interested individuals if the following provisions are in place:

(1) A physical inspection of the property where ACPS has determined that the property is in compliance with Sections 462.1104 and 462.1105,

(2) All animals on the premises must be current on required rabies vaccination and City license, if required, and

(3) The applicant has not been found guilty of animal negligence, cruelty or abuse.

A permitted hobby breeder may sell, trade, exchange or otherwise place up to 20 animals (the litter that brings the total to 20 offspring born sale meet the requirement of the 20 animal maximum if the animals are being bred) per calendar year provided that the litters are registered with ACPS. Registration shall be in the form of a letter stating when the litter was born and the number of animals in the litter.

(b) Occasional Seller Permit Required. ACPS shall issue, at no charge for an occasional seller that owns 15 or fewer unsterilized animals one year of age or older (if more than 15 are owned a per animal fee may be charged at the rate as found in www.coj.net/fees – there shall be no maximum number of animals established), an initial and subsequent renewal annual occasional seller permit upon application by interested individuals if the following provisions are in place:

(1) All animals on the premises must be current on required rabies vaccination and City license, and

(2) The applicant must not have been convicted of animal negligence, cruelty or abuse.

An occasional seller must register the litters or other unsterilized animals to be sold, traded, given away or exchanged with ACPS by sending written notice before the animals are offered for sale or otherwise exchanged; providing numbers of animals to be sold, traded or given away. An occasional seller shall not be subject to the other requirements of this Part.

Sec. 462.1201. – Sterilization of adopted animals.

An animal adopted, transferred or given away from an animal shelter or rescue organization or private individual seeking to adopt, transfer, exchange, foster, give away or otherwise find a home for homeless or unwanted animals shall be sterilized by a veterinarian prior to the adoption, except as provided in Section 462.608. The animal shelter or rescue organization may require the new pet owner to pay for the cost of sterilization.

PART 13. – EXCESSIVE UNSTERILIZED ANIMAL PERMITS

Sec. 462.1301. – Permit Requirements.

The fees listed below can be found electronically on the following City of Jacksonville webpage: www.coj.net/fees.

Any and all persons or businesses or other entities that have not secured a current, valid permit under Part 10 Pet Shops and Animal Dealers or Part 11 Hobby Breeders and Occasional Sellers shall be subject to the following requirements:

(a) No dwelling, residence, structure, or property may house more than five unsterilized cats and/or dogs over the age of six months, determined by the emergence of adult canine teeth, unless an annual “Excessive Unsterilized Animal Permit – Level One” fee has been paid to ACPS. The cost of the permit shall increase per animal (beginning with the sixth unsterilized animal) listed up to a total of 20 unsterilized animals.

(b) No dwelling, residence, structure, or property may house more than 20 unsterilized cats and/or dogs over the age of six months determined by the emergence of adult canine teeth unless an annual “Excessive Unsterilized Animal Permit – Level Two” fee has been paid to ACPS. The cost of the permit shall increase per animal (beginning with the sixth unsterilized animal) listed up to a total of 20 unsterilized animals, and further increase per animal(beginning with the twenty-first unsterilized animal) listed over 20 up to 40 unsterilized animals.

(c) No dwelling, residence, structure, or property may house more than 40 unsterilized cats and/or dogs over the age of six months, determined by the emergence of adult canine teeth, unless an annual “Excessive Unsterilized Animal Permit – Level Three” fee has been paid to ACPS. The cost of the permit shall increase per animal (beginning with the sixth unsterilized animal) listed up to a total of 20 unsterilized animals, and further increase per animal(beginning with the twenty-first unsterilized animal) listed over 20 up to 40 unsterilized animals, and further increase per animal beginning with the forty-first animal.

(d) Permit holders complying with the requirements of this Section may breed animals without securing a hobby breeder or occasional seller permit in Part 11, provided that no more than four litters are sold, traded, exchanged or otherwise placed per calendar year provided that the litters are registered with ACPS. Registration shall be in the form of a letter stating when the litter was born and the number of animals in the litter.

Sec. 462.1302. – Penalty for Non-Compliance.

If no current permit has been secured by a pet owner for excessive unsterilized animals as defined above, and more than five unsterilized cats and/or dogs are found on the property, in the dwelling, structure, or residence, the owner, occupant, or custodian/caregiver of such animals shall be subject to a fine of not less than the amount designated in Chapter 462, Part 18, for each individual unsterilized dog/cat over five.