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File ID: #12927
Ordinance
Second Reading
Sponsored by: Joe Carollo, Commissioner
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING CHAPTER
38/ARTICLE II OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED
("CITY CODE"), TITLED "PARKS AND RECREATION/USE REGULATIONS"; MORE
PARTICULARLY BY AMENDING SECTION 38-57 OF THE CITY CODE, TITLED
"DOMESTIC ANIMALS IN PARKS," TO RAISE THE FINE FOR ALLOWING DOGS
OFF THEIR LEASH TO $500.00; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
City of Miami File ID: 12927 (Revision: D) Printed On: 6/26/2025
City of Miami
Legislation
Ordinance
Enactment Number: 14137
File Number: 12927 Final Action Date: 1/26/2023
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AMENDING CHAPTER
38/ARTICLE II OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED
("CITY CODE"), TITLED "PARKS AND RECREATION/USE REGULATIONS"; MORE
PARTICULARLY BY AMENDING SECTION 38-57 OF THE CITY CODE, TITLED
"DOMESTIC ANIMALS IN PARKS," TO RAISE THE FINE FOR ALLOWING DOGS
OFF THEIR LEASH TO $500.00; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, currently Section 38-57 of the Code of the City of Miami, Florida, as
amended ("City Code"), titled "Domestic animals in parks," only provides for a $10.00 to $50.00
fine for allowing dogs to be in a public park without a leash; and
WHEREAS, in many public parks, unleashed dogs have created a problem among
walkers and runners and also due to distance from their owners created a situation where
their fecal matter is not removed; and
WHEREAS, the current fine system is diminimis and does not create the necessary
punishment to stop the illegal activity; and
WHEREAS, the last time this Section of the City was updated was in 1986; and
WHEREAS, it is in the health, safety and welfare interests of the residents of the
City of Miami that the fine amount be raised;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Ordinance are
adopted by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. Chapter 38/Article II of the City Code is further amended in the following
particulars:'
"CHAPTER 38
PARKS AND RECREATION
ARTICLE V. USE REGULATIONS
1 Words and/or figures stricken through shall be deleted. Underscored words and/or figures shall be
added. The remaining provisions are now in effect and remain unchanged. Asterisks indicate omitted and
unchanged material.
City of Miami File ID: 12927 (Revision: D) Printed On: 6/26/2025
Sec. 38-57. Domestic animals in parks.
Subject to the following exceptions, no person having the control or care of a domestic animal
shall cause or permit such animal to enter or remain in a public park. Any person violating this
section shall be fined not less than $10.00 and not more than $50.00 for each such violation,
as follows:
(1) First Offense: $50.00
(2) Second Offense: $250.00
(3) Third and Subsequent Offense: $500.00
This subsection shall be enforceable pursuant to Section 38-48 as well as Chapter 2, Article X
of the City Code.
The above prohibition shall not apply to a dog if:
(1) The dog is only allowed within such areas as have been designated or approved by
the department of parks and recreation; or
(2) The dog is kept securely fastened to a leash strong enough to prevent its running
free of the leash.
*„
Section 3. If any section, part of a section, paragraph, clause, phrase, or word of this
Ordinance is declared invalid, the remaining provisions of this Ordinance shall not be
affected.
Section 4. This Ordinance shall become effective immediately upon final reading and
adoption thereof.2
2 This Ordinance shall become effective as specified herein unless vetoed by the Mayor within ten (10)
days from the date it was passed and adopted. If the Mayor vetoes this Ordinance, it shall become
effective immediately upon override of the veto by the City Commission or upon the effective date stated
herein. whichever is later.
City of Miami File ID: 12927 (Revision: D) Printed On: 6/26/2025
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
11/7/2022 - rt6 f-4 de�S z, City ttor
City of Miami File ID: 12927 (Revision: D) Printed On: 6/26/2025