Subject:
Title
Proposed ordinance amending Chapter 14, Article II, Brevard County Code, relating to dangerous dog investigations
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Fiscal Impact:
None
Dept/Office:
Animal Services / County Attorney
Requested Action:
Recommendation
It is requested that the Board of County Commissioners hold a public hearing and consider adopting an ordinance amending Chapter 14, Article II of the Brevard County Code of Ordinances to reflect changes made to the Florida Statutes regarding dangerous dogs.
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Summary Explanation and Background:
On July 8, 2025, the Board approved legislative intent and permission to advertise an ordinance amending Chapter 14, Article II of the Brevard County Code of Ordinances to update the Code to reflect the changes made by the legislature to Chapter 767, Florida Statutes regarding dangerous dogs.
The amendments provide for a definition of the Dunbar bite scale, for a requirement for dangerous dogs to be implanted with a microchip, for dogs who have killed a human being or left a bite mark that scores a level 5 on the Dunbar bite scale to be confiscated by Animal Services and held pending the outcome of the investigation and hearing, and for updates to the dangerous dog hearing procedures. Additionally, the amendments provide for increased criminal penalties for the owners of dogs that attack an animal or human again after being declared a dangerous dog.
The proposed ordinance amendments were prepared by the County Attorney’s Office and were advertised on March 6, 2026.
Clerk to the Board Instructions:
Upon approval by the Board, execution by the Chair, and attestation by the Clerk, file the ordinance with the Department of State as required by law within the 10-day time frame. Please return a copy of the executed ordinance with the Department of State’s official acknowledgement of filing to the County Attorney’s Office, and to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Chief Legal Officer.