HomeMy WebLinkAbout19-004ORDINANCE NO. 19-004
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 6, "ANIMALS" OF THE
CODES OF ORDINANCES AND COMPILED LAWS OF ST. LUCIE
COUNTY, FLORIDA, BY AMENDING SECTION 6-19 (DEFINITIONS)
TO ADD A DEFINITION OF "RESPONSIBLE PERSON"; AMENDING
SUBSECTION 6-26(J) (ANIMAL CARE) TO REQUIRE A RESPONSIBLE
PERSON TO BE OUTSIDE AND WITHIN VIEW OF AN ANIMAL
WHILE TETHERED; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING
FOR FILING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE; PROVIDING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE; PROVIDING FOR ADOPTION; AND PROVIDING
FOR CODIFICATION.
WHEREAS, Section 125.01, Florida Statutes, authorizes the Board of County
Commissioners to establish programs providing for the health, safety and general welfare of the
residents of St. Lucie County; and,
WHEREAS, Chapter 6 (Animals) of the St. Lucie County Code of Ordinances and
Compiled Law (the "Animal Control Ordinance") provides for the regulation and control of
animals in the unincorporated areas of St. Lucie County; and
WHEREAS, Section 6-26 (Animal Care) establishes general standards for the care and
treatment of animals; and,
WHEREAS, on September 15, 2015, the Board adopted Ordinance No. 15-12 which
established restrictions on tethering of animals under Subsection 6-26(j) of the Code of
Ordinances; and,
WHEREAS, the Board has determined it is in the best interests of the animals who are
tethered to amend Subsection 6-26(j) to require a responsible person to be outside and within
view of the animal while tethered.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie
County, Florida:
PART A. CHAPTER 6 "ANIMAL AND FOWL" IS HEREBY AMENDED BY AMENDING
SECTION 6-19 (DEFINITIONS) TO ADD THE FOLLOWING DEFINITION:
Sec.6-19. Definitions.
Responsible person. A responsible person is an individual who is at least fifteen (15) years of age
or older who may provide temporary supervision or care for an animal as permitted by the
owner of the animal. A responsible person as described herein may be the owner, or may be a
person who is not the owner but has been permitted by the owner to provide temporary
supervision or care. JOSEPH E. SMITH, CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT
SAINT LUCIE COUNTY
1 FILE # 4550492 04/08/2019 11:2211 AM
OR BOOK 4252 PAGE 2411 - 2413 Doc Type: ORDN
RECORDING: $27.00
PART B. CHAPTER 6 "ANIMALS" IS HEREBY AMENDED BY AMENDING SUBSECTION 6-
26(J) (ANIMAL CARE) AS FOLLOWS:
Sec. 6-26. Animal Care.
(j) No animal shall be tethered unless all of the following provisions are met:
(1) Animals younger than six months old, older than seven years, or ill shall not be
tethered.
(2) The length and weight of the tether shall be appropriate for the animal breed
and shall be a minimum of ten feet long or four times the length of the animal
(measured from tip of nose to base of tail), whichever is greater.
(3) The tether must have swivels at both ends of the rope, chain or similar restraint
for holding an animal in place, allowing a short radius in which it can move about
and not become tangled.
(4) Prong, chose or chain collars are prohibited in the use of tethering an animal.
(5) The area which the animal may reach while tethered shall be free of
entanglements.
(6) The length and location of the tether must not allow the animal to reach a fence
or neighboring property.
(7) Collar weight shall be appropriate for the animal as determined by a reasonable
person.
(g)
wholy, tech Fed. A responsible person must be outside and within view of the
animal at all times while tethered.
(9) A trolley system is permitted.
(10) An animal may not be tethered in extreme weather, including but not limited to
hurricanes, tropical storms or tornados.
(11) The animal shall have access to a dry and raised area at all times.
PART F. SEVERABILITY.
If any provision of this Ordinance or the application thereof to any person or
circumstance is held invalid, it is the intent of the District that the invalidity shall not affect
other provisions or applications of the Ordinance which can be given effect without the invalid
provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this Ordinance are declared
severable.
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PART G. FILING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
The Clerk is hereby directed forthwith to send a certified copy of this ordinance to the
Bureau of Administrative Code and Laws, Department of State, the Capitol, Tallahassee, Florida
32304.
PART H. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Ordinance shall take effect upon filing with the Department of State.
PART I. ADOPTION.
After motion and second, the vote on this ordinance was as follows:
Chair Linda Bartz
AYE
Vice Chair Cathy Townsend
AYE
Commissioner Chris Dzadovsky
AYE
Commissioner Sean Mitchell
AYE
Commissioner Frannie Hutchinson
AYE
PART J. CODIFICATION.
Provisions of this ordinance shall be incorporated in the Code of Ordinances of St. Lucie
County, Florida, and the word "ordinance" may be changed to "section," "article," or other
appropriate word, and the sections of this ordinance may be renumbered or relettered to
accomplish such intention; provided, however, that Parts F through 1 shall not be codified.
PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this 2ND day of April, 2019.
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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA
BY:
Chair
APPROVED AS TO FORM,[
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County Attney
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RON DESANTIS
Governor
April 5, 2019
Honorable Joseph E. Smith
Clerk of the Circuit Court
St. Lucie County
2300 Virginia Avenue
Fort Pierce, Florida 34982
Attention: Ms. Alice Sennott
Dear Mr. Smith:
LAUREL M. LEE
Secretary of State
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 125.66, Florida Statutes, this will acknowledge receipt of your
electronic copy of St. Lucie County Ordinance No. 19-004 which was filed in this office on April 5, 2019.
Sincerely,
Ernest L. Reddick
Program Administrator
ELR/lb
R. A. Gray Building • 500 South Bronough Street • Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0250
Telephone: (850) 245-6270
www.dos.state.fl.us