Broward County Florida Laws and Ordinances

Broward County, Florida has a code of ordinances, which consists of resolutions, administrative rules, and regulations for the stated purpose of achieving a more responsive and efficient form of local government.  These ordinances provide remedies and penalties that incorporate, supplement and are in addition to other laws, including common-law, statutory law, or otherwise.  The authority for their enactment is contained in Article VIII, Section 1 of the State Constitution and in statutory law, Chapter 69-32.

In many instances, municipal ordinances provide for civil and criminal penalties, damages, and other relief against violators of these local laws.  Below is a list of some of the most helpful laws used to protect Broward County residents.

Also Read:  Broward County, Florida Statute of Limitations

Broward County Ordinance Against Discriminatory practices in real estate transactions.

It is unlawful for any person, including but not limited to any owner, lessee, lessor, sublessee, sublessor, assignee, assignor, manager, real estate broker, salesperson, condominium association, homeowners' association, cooperative association, or any representative of any of the foregoing:

  • To refuse to sell or rent after the making of a bona fide offer, to refuse to negotiate for the sale or rental of, or otherwise to make unavailable or deny, a dwelling to any person because of a discriminatory classification.
  • To discriminate against any person in the terms, conditions, or privileges of the sale or rental of a dwelling, or in the provision of services or facilities in connection therewith, because of a discriminatory classification.
  • To represent to any person because of a discriminatory classification that any dwelling is not available for inspection, sale, or rental when such dwelling is in fact so available.
  • To make, print, or publish, or cause to be made, printed, or published, any notice, statement, or advertisement with respect to the sale or rental of a dwelling that indicates any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on a discriminatory classification, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.
  • To induce or attempt to induce, for-profit, any person to sell or rent any dwelling by a representation regarding the entry or prospective entry into the neighborhood of a person or persons of a particular race, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, age, familial status, political affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or pregnant women.
  • To discriminate in the sale or rental of, or to otherwise make unavailable or deny, a dwelling to any buyer or renter because of a disability…
  • To discriminate against any person in the terms, conditions, or privileges of sale or rental of a dwelling, or in the provisions of services or facilities in connection with such dwelling, because of a disability…


Broward County Ordinance Against Discriminatory practices in employment.
It is a discriminatory practice for an employer:

  • To fail or refuse to hire, to discharge, or to otherwise discriminate against an individual, with respect to compensation or the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of a discriminatory classification; or
  • To limit, segregate, or classify an employee in a way that would deprive or tend to deprive an individual of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect the status of an employee because of a discriminatory classification.

Broward County Ordinance Against Discriminatory practices in public accommodations

It is unlawful for a person:

  • To deny, withhold, or refuse an individual or group the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of a place of public accommodation because of a discriminatory classification;
  • To interfere with the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of a place of public accommodation on the basis that an individual's patronage or presence is objectionable, unwelcome, unacceptable, or undesirable because of a discriminatory classification;
  • To deny an individual or group the full and equal enjoyment of a place of public accommodation by creating architectural barriers or limiting accessible parking; or
  • To discriminate against any individual because of a discriminatory classification in evaluating an application for membership in a club that has more than four hundred (400) members, that provides regular meal service, and that regularly receives payment for dues, fees, use of space, facilities, services, meals, or beverages, directly or indirectly, from nonmembers for business purposes. It is unlawful for a person, on behalf of such a club, to publish, circulate, issue, display, post, or mail any advertisement, notice, or solicitation that contains a statement to the effect that the accommodations, advantages, facilities, membership, or privileges of the club are denied to any individual because of a discriminatory classification. This subsection does not apply to fraternal or benevolent organizations, ethnic clubs, or religious organizations where business activity is not prevalent.

Broward County Ordinance Against Use of Nets in Salt Waters

  • No person, firm or corporation shall use or cause to be used any net or nets in the salt waters of Broward County, Florida, for the purpose of taking or catching fish, provided that this section shall not apply to a common cast or throw net which is not in excess of seven (7) feet in length.
  • Anyone violating any of the provisions of this section shall be fined in the sum of not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500.00) or by imprisonment not exceeding six (6) months or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Broward County Ordinance Allowing Stop and Frisk -  Seizure of Certain Drugs, etc.; Temporary Detention.

No evidence seized by a law enforcement officer in any search under this section shall be admissible against any person in any court of Broward County, Florida, or political subdivision thereof unless the search which disclosed its existence was authorized by and conducted in compliance with the following provisions hereof:

  • Whenever any law enforcement officer of this county encounters any person under circumstances which reasonably indicate that such person has committed, is committing or is about to commit a violation of the criminal laws of this state, or the criminal ordinances of any municipality, or of this county, he may temporarily detain such person for the purpose of ascertaining the identity of the person temporarily detained and the circumstances surrounding his presence abroad which led the officer to believe that he had committed, was committing or was about to commit a criminal offense.
  • No person shall be temporarily detained under the provisions of subsection (1) of this section longer than is reasonably necessary to effect the purposes of that subsection. Such temporary detention shall not extend beyond the place where it was first effected or the immediate vicinity thereof.
  • If at any time after the onset of the temporary detention authorized by subsection (1) of this section, probable cause for the arrest of the person shall appear, the person shall be arrested. If, after an inquiry into the circumstances which prompted the temporary detention, no probable cause for the arrest of the person shall appear, he shall be released.
  • Whenever, at a public gathering, congregation of persons, public meeting, recreational or sporting event or other assemblage of persons or at a staging area or point of assembly where persons congregate to be transported to or to enter upon such a public gathering, congregation of persons, public meeting, recreational or sporting event or other assemblage, any law enforcement officer of this county has probable cause to believe that any person whom he has temporarily detained or is about to temporarily detain is unlawfully in possession of narcotics, barbiturates, hallucinogens or any other illegal material or substance and/or is about to introduce any of the aforesaid or any other unlawful or illegal material or substance into the aforesaid public meeting, congregation or assemblage of persons to the danger of and in such a manner as to offer a threat to the health, safety, welfare and well-being of any person, then the law enforcement officer may search such persons whom he has temporarily detained only to the extent necessary to disclose and for the purpose of disclosing the presence of such unlawfully held material. If such search discloses such material or any evidence of a criminal offense, it may be seized.

Broward County Ordinance Against Unlawful Consumption of Alcohol in Public Places

  • Alcoholic beverage: Any beverage which contains more than one percent of alcohol by weight.
  • It shall be unlawful for any person to consume any alcoholic beverage upon any area available for use by the public for motor vehicle parking purposes, any public street, highway or sidewalk, where such area adjoins or is adjacent or appurtenant to any establishment within Broward County, Florida, where alcoholic beverages are sold or dispensed.
  • It shall be unlawful for any person to consume any alcoholic beverage on the premises of any establishment within Broward County, Florida, where such beverages are sold only for consumption off the premises.
  • It shall be unlawful for any person, or for the officers, employees, servants or agents of any person, firm, association or corporation licensed by the State of Florida for the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption either on or off the premises, to:
  • Sell, serve or dispense any alcoholic beverage to any person upon any motor vehicle parking area which is adjacent to or adjoining, or appurtenant to any establishment within Broward County, Florida, licensed for the sale of alcoholic beverages; or,
  • Knowingly permit the consumption of any alcoholic beverage by any person upon any motor vehicle parking area which is adjacent to or adjoining, or appurtenant to any establishment within Broward County, Florida, licensed for the sale of alcoholic beverages.

Broward County Ordinance Against Possession of Open Containers, Consumption in a Motor Vehicle.

The Board of County Commissioners of Broward County finds that the consumption of alcoholic beverages while driving or riding in or on a motor vehicle poses a grave and imminent hazard to the health and welfare of the residents of Broward County. Therefore, it is declared to be the policy of Broward County that the consumption of alcoholic beverages and the possession of any open container containing alcoholic beverages while driving or riding in a motor vehicle is prohibited.

  • Definitions: The following words and phrases when used in this section shall, for the purposes of this section, have the following meanings:

Motor vehicle: Any vehicle propelled by other than muscular power.

Alcoholic beverage: Any beverage which contains more than one (1) percent of alcohol by weight.

Highway: Any public street, avenue, boulevard, roadway, alley, sidewalk and other right-of-way located within Broward County.

Open container: Any bottle, can or other receptacle containing any alcoholic beverage or any mixture containing an alcoholic beverage which has been opened, or a seal broken, or the contents of which have been partially removed. An open container shall not be considered in the possession of a person if the open container is located in a locked glove compartment, trunk or other locked compartment in the motor vehicle.

  • Prohibitions: No person shall drink from nor have in his possession any open container containing any alcoholic beverage or any mixture containing an alcoholic beverage while in or on a motor vehicle, whether moving or stopped, upon any highway.
  • Exception: Vehicles for Hire: No person shall be in violation of this section who is a passenger in a motor vehicle operated by a motor carrier certificated or registered in accordance with the provisions of chapter 22½ of the Broward County Code of Ordinances, or a passenger in a motor vehicle with a passenger capacity of more than eight (8), which motor vehicle is regularly engaged in the business of providing passenger transportation for compensation and is being operated by a person for compensation.

Broward County Ordinance Requiring Registration of Dogs and Cats.

  • Any person who owns or keeps in Broward County a dog or cat four (4) months of age or older shall have such dog or cat registered by and in Broward County and shall obtain and keep a current rabies registration tag. The Division shall provide suitable dog and cat rabies registration tags for sale through authorized representatives or through the Division. A separate rabies registration tag shall be issued for each dog or cat, and a rabies registration tag issued for one (1) dog or one (1) cat is not valid for any other dog or cat.
  • A rabies registration tag for a dog or cat shall consist of a tag for the animal's collar or harness. The Director shall design an appropriate rabies registration tag, and shall issue the tag to authorized representatives.
  • Any nonresident who brings a dog or cat four (4) months of age or older into Broward County with the intent to reside within the County permanently, or temporarily for a period of at least three (3) months, shall have such dog or cat registered by and in Broward County within thirty (30) days after arrival.

Broward County Ordinance Requiring the Reporting of Bites from Dogs, Cats, or Ferrets.

Any person who has been bitten or has knowledge of or treats any person bitten by any dog, cat, or ferret shall report the incident to the Florida Department of Health and to the Division within twelve (12) hours of the earlier of the occurrence of, or learning of, the incident.

Broward County Ordinance Against Fighting or Baiting Animals.

  • Definitions:

Animal fighting shall mean fighting between dogs or any other wild or domestic animals.

Baiting shall mean to attack with violence, to provoke, or to harass an animal with one (1) or more animals for the purpose of training an animal for, or to cause an animal to engage in, fights with or among other animals or as further defined in Section 828.122, Florida Statutes.

Person shall mean every natural person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, or other legal entity.

  • Any person who commits any of the following acts shall be in violation of this section:

Baiting, breeding, training, transporting, selling, owning, or using any wild or domestic animal for the purpose of fighting or baiting any other animal.

Knowingly owning, managing, operating, leasing, or having control of any property or any facility kept or used for the purpose of fighting or baiting any animal.

Owning, possessing, or selling equipment with intent to use it in any activity described in subsection (b)(1) above.

Promoting, staging, advertising, or charging any admission fee to a fight or baiting between two (2) or more animals.

Knowingly performing any service or act to facilitate animal fighting or baiting, including, but not limited to, providing security, refereeing, or handling or transporting animals, or being a stakeholder of any money wagered on animal fighting or baiting.

  • The provisions of this section shall not apply to:

Any person simulating a fight for the purpose of using the simulated fight as part of a motion picture which will be used on television or in a motion picture provided that Section 4-17 of this chapter prohibiting cruelty to animals is not violated.

Any person using animals to pursue or take wildlife or to participate in any hunting regulated or subject to being regulated by the rules and regulations of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Any person using animals to work livestock for agricultural purposes.

  • Any person violating this section shall be issued a citation by an officer. Prior to the issuance of the citation, an officer may issue a warning to any person violating this section. A citation may be appealed by filing a written notice of appeal with the Division within ten (10) days after issuance of the citation. The hearing before the hearing officer shall be governed as provided in Section 4-12.5 of this Code. The Division may, pursuant to Section 828.073, Florida Statutes, impound any animals or equipment used in committing the violation and shall provide for appropriate and humane care or disposition of the animals.

Broward County Ordinance Imposing Duty On Owner to Maintain and Repair Property.
It shall be the duty of each owner of property located in the unincorporated area of Broward County abutting the swale area of the public right-of-way, of which there is paved more than twenty (20) percent of said swale area, to maintain or repair or maintain and repair in accordance with the standards and procedures set forth in the manual entitled, "Requirements for Paving More Than Twenty percent of Abutting Swale Area Within the Public Right-of-Way," those subsurface drainage areas or facilities having been privately constructed to replace the drainage in the previously unpaved swale area.

Also, see: Broward County Mobile Home Law

Sources: Broward County, Florida - Code of Ordinances & Board of County Commissioners

 

Please Note: This information is for illustrative purposes and should not be relied upon – Please contact an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify this information because Broward County Florida laws are constantly being amended and changed. 

 

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