The American Kennel Club (AKC) has just learned that the Marion County Land Development Regulation Commission, a volunteer group, will consider a draft ordinance that seeks to impose limits on the number of dogs and cats that may be kept in unincorporated areas of the county at its meeting today, at 5:30PM in the Marion County Main Training Room, 2710 E. Silver Springs Boulevard, Ocala, Florida, 34470.
AKC is deeply concerned with this proposal, and encourages all residents of unincorporated areas in Marion County to contact County Commissioners and members of the Land Development Regulation Commission and urge them to oppose the draft as currently written.
SUMMARY
As currently written, the ordinance would limit dog and cat ownership/possession in unincorporated areas of the county as follows:
- On all non-agriculturally zoned properties, no more than four (4) dogs or eight (8) cats per residence.
- On agriculturally zoned properties less than ten (10) acres in size, no more than six (6) dogs or ten (10) cats per residence.
- On agriculturally zoned properties of more than ten (10) acres, no more than ten (10) dogs or fifteen (15) cats per residence.
“High volume owners” [undefined] on agriculturally zoned properties of more than ten (10) acres would be able to apply for an exemption through the Special Use permit review and permitting process. Service animals would not be counted toward the number of animals permitted.
Click here to read the draft dog limit zoning ordinance.
CONCERNS
- Approximately 81% of county residents would be impacted by this proposal. Because its impact is likely far reaching and negative, residents should be provided an extended timeframe to review the proposal and reach out to County Commissioners to share their concerns.
- The draft is unclear as to whether limits of both species may be owned/possessed in a residence simultaneously, or whether a limited number of both may be permitted.
- For residents of non-agricultural properties and for residents of agriculturally-zoned properties less than ten acres in size, the draft provides no plan of action for the number of currently-owned animals that would be above the limits proposed. Would those dogs and cats be subject to seizure and forfeiture? Euthanasia? Redistribution via shelters and rescues? To ensure that owners will not be forced to give up any animals, any limit proposal should grandfather all currently-owned animals, and owners should be allowed to come into compliance as animals die or if transferred.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
First, contact the Marion County Board of Commissioners to express deep concerns with the draft ownership limits ordinance currently before the Land Development Regulation Commission.
Please feel free to use the points above when asking them to oppose the current draft dog limit zoning ordinance.
All county commissioners may be contacted at once by emailing CountyCommissioners@marionfl.org.
Individual county commissioners may be contacted as follows:
Commissioner Kathy Bryant, Dist. 2 , Board Chair – Kathy.Bryant@MarionFL.org
Commissioner Carl Zalak, III, Dist. 4, Board Vice Chair – Carl.Zalak@MarionFL.org
Commissioner Craig Curry, Dist. 1 – (352) 438-2323, Craig.Curry@MarionFL.org
Commissioner Matt McClain, Dist. 3 – Matthew.McClain@MarionFL.org
Commissioner Michelle Stone, Dist. 5 – Michelle.Stone@MarionFL.org
The phone number for all commissioners is (352) 438-2323.
To identify your commission, go to https://www.marionfl.org/my-commissioners and use the Find Your Commissioner search feature near the bottom of the page.
Second, contact the Land Development Regulation Commission and express your deep concerns with the current draft dog limit zoning ordinance. It may be reached by phone at (352) 438-2691, or by email using the form available at https://www.marionfl.org/doing-business/phone-directory/contact-planning.
AKC’s Government Relations Department (GR) will provide updates on Marion County as developments warrant. For more information, contact AKC GR at doglaw@akc.org.