Port St. Lucie, Florida

Sec. 92.18. – Number of animals.

It shall be unlawful to own, harbor, or keep more than three (3) unsterilized domestic pets over the age of 6 months or any combination thereof in a residential zoning district. Anyone found guilty of hoarding animals in violation of Section 92.24 is prohibited from owning, harboring, or keeping more than three (3) domestic pets and is required to sterilize all domestic pets in the household in which they reside.

A person may own, harbor, or keep more than three (3) but no more than five (5) unsterilized domestic pets or any combination thereof in a residential zoning district if one of the following exemptions apply:

(a) All unsterilized domestic pets are registered with a national or international club, association, or registry recognized by the Animal Control Division, and the owner certifies in writing to the Division that the animals are being used, trained, or considered for use in show(s), sporting competition(s), or other similar competitive event(s) held by one (1) or more national or international clubs, associations, or registries.

(b) A veterinarian licensed in the State certifies in writing that one or more of the domestic pets are medically unfit to undergo the required spay or neuter procedure because of a medical condition, including, but not limited to, age, that would be substantially aggravated by such procedure or would likely cause the domestic pet’s death. The writing must state the date by which the domestic pet may be safely spayed or neutered. The Animal Control Division may extend the time for spaying or neutering a domestic pet or may exempt such domestic pet from the spay/neuter requirement based upon the written medical recommendation of a licensed veterinarian. As soon as the medical condition that prevents a domestic pet from being spayed or neutered ceases to exist, it shall be the duty of the owner of such domestic pet to promptly comply with this section. This exemption shall only allow a person to own, harbor, or keep the number of additional unsterilized domestic pets in excess of three (3) for which such veterinarian certification(s) reference.

(c) The unsterilized domestic pets are six (6) months of age or younger.

Sec. 92.41. – Application; issuance.

(b) Lifetime License. Upon application and payment of a fee as prescribed in Section 92.44 for each domestic pet, except as hereinafter provided, and proof of the pet being spayed or neutered or animal is barren and cannot reproduce and having been implanted with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag, the animal control division shall issue a lifetime license for that pet. A tag may be furnished and the RFID tag identification code will become that pet’s permanent lifetime license. Dogs declared “Dangerous” under Florida Statute may only obtain an annual license and are not eligible for a lifetime license.

Sec. 92.44. – Licensing fees.

(a) The following fees are prescribed for domestic pet licenses: