Dangerous Dog Breeds Banned in Florida: What the Law Says Since 2023
November 2, 2026
Dangerous dog breeds banned in Florida is a short list now: no breed is banned by the state, and no city or county can ban one. Since October 1, 2023, Florida law has judged dogs by what they do, not by what they look like. If you own a pit bull, Rottweiler, or German Shepherd, you can legally keep that dog anywhere in the state.
That does not mean every door is open. Private landlords, HOAs, and insurance companies still set their own breed rules, and those rules cause most of the real-world trouble for Florida dog owners.
This article explains what changed, what the state still enforces, and where breed limits still apply. It also covers what to do if you are moving to Florida with a dog that some landlords or insurers dislike.
Are Dangerous Dog Breeds Banned in Florida?
No. As of 2026, no dog breed is banned in Florida by state law or by any local government. A Miami personal injury firm’s 2026 dog bite law guide states that no Florida local government may enact a new breed ban and that Miami-Dade no longer restricts pit bulls specifically.
The change took effect on October 1, 2023. The law prevents local governments and public housing authorities from adopting policies or ordinances that designate a dog as dangerous based solely on its breed, size, or weight.
You may still see older articles saying Miami-Dade bans pit bulls. Those pages are out of date. The sections below explain exactly what happened.
Key Insight: Florida law targets individual dogs that act dangerously. It does not target breeds. A dog of any breed can be declared dangerous after an incident, and a dog of any breed is legal until then.
Does Florida Have a Statewide Dog Breed Ban?
Florida has never had a statewide list of banned breeds. Its main dog law, Chapter 767 of the Florida Statutes, covers dog bite liability and dangerous dogs, and it works on conduct.
The state went the other direction on breed rules. In 1990, the Florida legislature enacted Section 767.14, which prohibited local governments from adopting breed-specific dog laws. That means the state limits breed rules rather than creating them.
For a plain-language look at how the state’s behavior-based system works, see our article on the dangerous dog declaration in Florida.
Can Cities and Counties in Florida Ban Dog Breeds?
No. Florida cities, counties, and public housing authorities cannot ban or restrict dogs based solely on breed, size, or weight. The law affects all Florida counties and prohibits local governments from placing bans or restrictions on dogs based solely on their breed, size or weight.
Local governments still have some power. The state law still allows local governments to impose restrictions or additional requirements on owners of dogs classified as “dangerous,” without singling out a specific breed.
So your county can require a dangerous-dog license, a secure enclosure, or a muzzle for a dog that has earned that label. It cannot apply those rules to a whole breed.
Cities and Counties in Florida With Breed Bans or Restrictions
There are no Florida cities or counties with a valid breed ban in 2026. Two local governments were the last holdouts, and both lost their authority in 2023.
| Local Government | Old Rule | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Miami-Dade County | Ownership ban on pit bull-type dogs, adopted 1989 | Nullified October 1, 2023 |
| City of Sunrise | Pit bull confinement rules | Nullified October 1, 2023 |
The change effectively nullified Miami-Dade County’s and the City of Sunrise’s existing restrictions on pit bull owners. Sunrise had required that pit bulls be securely confined indoors or in a locked, enclosed pen.
Some websites still list older ordinances from places like Coral Gables, Marianna, or Palm Beach County. If you see one, treat it as unreliable unless it comes from the current municipal code. Call your local animal services office to confirm before you assume a rule applies.
Dog Breeds Most Often Banned or Restricted in Florida
No breed is banned by law, but a few breeds appear again and again on private restriction lists. These are the ones you are most likely to run into when renting, buying a condo, or buying a homeowners policy.
- Pit bull-type dogs, including the American Staffordshire Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Rottweilers
- German Shepherds
- Doberman Pinschers
- Chow Chows
- Akitas and Alaskan Malamutes
- Presa Canarios and Cane Corsos
- Siberian Huskies
- Wolf-dog hybrids
An Orlando apartment community’s restricted breed list shows how broad these lists get. It covers purebred and mixed dogs and runs from Rottweilers and Pit Bulls to Dalmatians and Borzoi.
Pit bull-type dogs were the main target of Florida’s old public rules. If you want help understanding which dogs fall under that label, our guide to types of pit bull dog breeds breaks them down, and our banned dog breeds article covers bans in other places.
Dog Breed Bans vs. Breed Restrictions in Florida
A breed ban says you cannot own a certain breed at all. A breed restriction lets you own the dog but adds conditions, such as a muzzle, a fenced pen, a special license, or a ban from certain places.
Florida’s old rules used both. Miami-Dade used a ban, while Sunrise used a restriction. Both ended in 2023 for governments.
| Feature | Breed Ban | Breed Restriction |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Prohibits owning the breed | Allows the dog with conditions |
| Typical conditions | Removal, seizure, or fines | Muzzle, enclosure, leash, signage |
| Local government use in Florida | Not allowed since October 1, 2023 | Not allowed when based only on breed, size, or weight |
| Private use in Florida | Allowed in leases, HOA rules, and insurance | Allowed in leases, HOA rules, and insurance |
Today, the only breed-based limits you will face come from private parties. Government conditions like muzzles and enclosures apply only after a dog is classified as dangerous.
How Florida Defines a Dangerous Dog (Behavior, Not Breed)
Florida defines a dangerous dog by its actions. The law covers a dog that has aggressively bitten, endangered, or harmed a person unprovoked, one that has severely injured or killed a domestic animal, and one that has chased or approached a person in public with “an attitude of attack.”
A dog is not labeled dangerous on suspicion alone. A dog is deemed dangerous after an investigation. That investigation is handled by your local animal control authority.
If your dog is declared dangerous, you can expect to follow set rules. A Florida personal injury firm describes Broward County’s version of these rules, which include registering the dog and getting a license tag within 14 days of classification and renewing the tag every year.
Our dangerous dog declaration guide walks through the process, and our overview of dangerous animals in Florida puts dog risk in wider context.
Important Note: Florida’s dog bite statute, Section 767.04, makes owners liable for bites even if the dog was never declared dangerous. A clean record does not protect you from a bite claim.
How Breed Bans in Florida Treat Mixed-Breed Dogs
Because no government breed ban exists now, mixed-breed dogs face no legal breed test from the state, a county, or a city. Your dog’s DNA result or appearance does not decide whether it is legal.
That was not true under the old Miami-Dade rules. Both pure and mixed-breed dogs were affected, and the ordinance reached any dog that substantially conforms to the breed characteristics of the banned types. Owners often had to argue over a dog’s looks, which is one reason advocates pushed to end the ban.
Private rules still use visual guessing. Many leases and insurers say “pit bull mix” or “resembles” a listed breed. If you own a mixed dog, ask the landlord or insurer how they decide, and ask what proof they accept, such as a vet record or DNA test.
Exemptions and Grandfathered Dogs Under Florida Breed Rules
There are no grandfathered government breed rules left. For 33 years, Section 767.14 grandfathered in any local ordinance enacted before October 1, 1990, which kept Miami-Dade’s ban alive. The 2023 law removed that exemption.
A few exemptions still matter in private housing. Community associations that restrict breeds must still permit emotional support animals and service animals, regardless of breed. The same source ties that duty to the Americans with Disabilities Act and state and federal Fair Housing Acts.
If you need an assistance animal, ask for a reasonable accommodation in writing and attach the documentation your housing provider requires. Housing rules differ for service animals and emotional support animals, so check the specific requirements before you apply.
Breed Restrictions by Landlords, HOAs, Insurers and Military Housing in Florida
Private parties can still restrict breeds. Private landlords, homeowners’ associations, and insurance companies can still ban dangerous dog breeds in Florida. The 2023 law applies to governments and public housing, not private contracts.
Landlords and Apartment Communities
Landlords can write breed or weight limits into a lease. One Florida pet-law summary lists common private rental terms such as monthly pet rent of $25 to $75 and security deposits of $200 to $500, though your own costs will vary by property.
HOAs and Condo Associations
Associations follow their governing documents. A Tampa real estate lawyer notes that community associations can enforce breed rules, but trying to add new ones by vote can invite a lawsuit.
Insurers
Insurers decide on their own. Some decline coverage or exclude dog bite liability for certain breeds. Ask your agent about breed exclusions before you buy or renew, and ask whether a canine good citizen certificate or training record changes the answer.
Military Housing
The search results I reviewed did not include Florida-specific military housing policy, so check directly with your installation’s housing office. Military housing is typically governed by each branch’s own pet policy rather than by Florida local law, so confirm the current breed list in writing before you move.
Moving to Florida With a Restricted Dog Breed
You can bring a pit bull, Rottweiler, or any other breed into Florida without breaking a government rule. The barriers you will face are housing and insurance, so plan those two first.
- Ask your insurer or a new one whether your dog’s breed is excluded before you sign a lease or contract.
- Gather vet records, vaccination proof, training certificates, and a recent photo of your dog.
- Search for pet-friendly housing that lists no breed restrictions, and ask for that in writing.
- Offer a pet résumé or meet-and-greet to a private landlord who has a breed policy.
- Register your dog with your new county, which usually requires a current rabies certificate.
Pro Tip: Public housing authorities cannot refuse your dog based only on breed, size, or weight. Private landlords can, so start your search with properties that state a no-breed-restriction policy.
If you are comparing breeds before a move, our guides to low-shedding dog breeds and herding dog breeds can help you think about which dogs fit apartment living.
Can You Challenge a Local Breed Ban in Florida?
You rarely need to, because local breed bans are no longer valid. If a city, county, or public housing authority tries to enforce one, you can point to Section 767.14 as amended in 2023.
Start with a polite written request to the local animal control office or housing authority, citing the statute and asking them to confirm in writing that the rule is not being applied. If they refuse, a Florida attorney who handles animal law can advise you on next steps.
A challenge to a private rule is harder. Courts generally treat leases and HOA documents as contracts, so the better route is negotiation, a reasonable accommodation request for an assistance animal, or finding a different property.
If your dog has been declared dangerous, that is a separate process. You can usually request a hearing within a short window, so read the notice carefully and act quickly.
Recent Changes to Dog Breed Ban Laws in Florida
The big change is Senate Bill 942, titled “Authorization of Restrictions Concerning Dogs.” Gov. Ron DeSantis signed it on June 16, 2023, adding weight and size as prohibited topics in addition to breed.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1989 | Miami-Dade adopts pit bull ban after a child is attacked |
| 1990 | State preempts new local breed rules but grandfathers existing ones |
| 2012 | Miami-Dade voters keep the ban |
| June 16, 2023 | SB 942 signed |
| October 1, 2023 | Law takes effect; grandfather clause removed |
According to a breed-specific law tracker updated in October 2026, the Miami-Dade ban ended on October 1, 2023, after 34 years. Best Friends Animal Society credits a strategy built on public housing barriers, which it says were the top reason owners gave for surrendering pets; see its account of the campaign.
Important Note: One 2026 online guide describes the 2023 change as a repeal of state preemption that lets other counties write their own breed rules. Other sources, including Florida news reports and bill analyses, say the opposite: the law removed the grandfather clause and bars all local breed rules. The second reading matches the bill text and reporting, so treat it as correct and confirm with local animal services if you are unsure.
For this reason, you should always check the date on any article about Florida dog laws. Anything published before October 2023 is likely outdated. The new rule is simple: judge the dog, not the breed, and keep your own paperwork current.