Tomorrow, Tuesday April 8, 2025, the Board of County Commissioners of Marion County, Florida, will consider adopting animal-related changes to the County’s Land Development Code. Should these amendments be adopted, they will impact those who reside in unincorporated areas of the county. The American Kennel Club (AKC) and the Florida Association of Kennel Clubs (FAKC) remain concerned about these changes, and encourage all Marion County residents to contact the County Council with their concerns. (Scroll down for contact information.)
HISTORY
In early February, the Marion County Land Development Regulation Commission considered changes to the county’s Land Development Code that included dog and cat ownership limits for residents of unincorporated areas of the county. The limits would have been based on zoning classifications. In March, the Commission held a public hearing on an amended version its proposal which instead addresses the regulation of certain kennels, breeders, owners, and animal-related businesses.
SUMMARY
All that remains in the proposal are five definitions for the Land Development Code, four of which are new and one that has been amended:
- Kennel (amended, as underlined) – Any place where four or more dogs and/or cats, in aggregate, over four months of age or groomed, bred, raised, boarded, or trained for compensation or income including an Animal Related Business, Animal Related Organization, Commercial breeder, and High-Volume Owners with over thirty (30) dogs and/or cats in aggregate.
- Animal Related Business (new) – Any for-profit person or business that renders services to, for or by any domestic animal. Examples of animal related businesses include, but are not limited to, boarding facilities, doggie day cares, groomers, and training facilities. (Does not include offices or practices of State-certified and licensed veterinarians.)
- Animal Related Organization (new) – Any not for profit entity that has tax exempt station in accordance with Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and whose primary mission includes the rescue, welfare, care, and/or adoption/placement of stray, abandoned, or surrendered animals, and which does not obtain animals from a breeder or broker for payment or compensation.
- Commercial Breeder (new) – Any person, firm, partnership, corporation, or other association that engages in the breeding of four (4) or more dogs or cats, in aggregate.
- High-Volume Owner (new) – Any person, business, or organization who owns, harbors, or keeps more than fifteen (15) dogs or cats, in aggregate, at a property or structure, for any purpose, including, but not limited to, housing, boarding, breeding, training, show or exhibition, hunting, sale, rescue, adoption, or personal pet or use. Such definition does not include any property or structure where a Florida state licensed veterinarian practices and has a premises permit, as required by F.S. Ch. 474, or any property or structure used as a veterinary hospital, medical research laboratory, pari-mutuel dog racing establishment, or any governmental agency, or to any boarding kennel operated in conjunction with any of the foregoing. (Does not include Marion County Animal Services.)
Those in unincorporated areas of Marion County meeting any of these definitions must complete a Kennel License Application and submit it to the Zoning Department to determine if a Special Use Permit is needed. If one is needed, a formal written application and $1,000 fee must be submitted to the Growth Services Department. The application is then submitted to Planning and Zoning for consideration in a public hearing. Successful applications would then be considered by the Board of County Commissioners, which requires a majority vote for approval.
If a Special Use Permit was not needed, or once one was issued, the Kennel License Application would then need to be submitted to Marion County Animal Services with a nonrefundable application fee of $100, an inspection fee of $45-$180 (depending on number of animals kept), and proof of rabies vaccines and county licenses on all animals.
Kennels must be inspected semi-annually ($45-$180). Re-inspections cost $50.
AKC’S POSITION
AKC appreciates the removal of ownership limits by both the Land Development Regulation Commission and the Board of County Commissioners. However, we are concerned that the definition of “commercial breeder” does not require sales, only the breeding of dogs. A plain reading of the definition could then result in a person being classified as both a commercial breeder and a high-volume owner. Additionally, the definition is silent on the length of time that a person’s activities may qualify them as a commercial breeder (i.e., currently active, during the past year, during a lifetime).
Those who breed and keep dogs in their private homes and who must be licensed will be required to allow inspections of their private homes, raising privacy concerns.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Marion County residents are encouraged to email the Board of County Commissioners with concerns regarding the proposed animal-related changes to the Land Development Code. Email all commissioners at once at CountyCommissioners@marionfl.org.
Individual commissioners may be contacted as follows:
Commissioner Kathy Bryant, Board Chair (Dist. 2) – Kathy.Bryant@MarionFL.org
Commissioner Carl Zalak, III, Board Vice Chair (Dist. 4) – Carl.Zalak@MarionFL.org
Commissioner Craig Curry (Dist. 1) – Craig.Curry@MarionFL.org
Commissioner Matt McClain (Dist. 3) – Matthew.McClain@MarionFl.org
Commissioner Michelle Stone (Dist. 5) – Michelle.Stone@MarionFL.org
To find your commissioner, go to https://www.marionfl.org/my-commissioners to search by name, address, or parcel number.
County residents are also strongly encouraged to attend the Tuesday, April 8, 2025, meeting of the Marion County Board of Commissioners. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6PM, at the McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium, 319 SE 26th Terrace, Ocala, Florida 34471.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact The Florida Association of Kennel Clubs (FAKC) by email at Jseltrecht123@gmail.com or visit http://www.fakc.org/; or contact AKC Government Relations at doglaw@akc.org.