Overview

The department has a full-time Animal Control Officer whose primary job is patrolling the City of Jacksonville Beach to observe animal law violations, enforce animal control laws, issue citations, and conduct investigations.

Main duties include:

• Picking up stray and mistreated animals
• Holding animals as evidence, for quarantine, or for safekeeping
• Investigating animal complaints
• Conducting animal bite and cruelty investigations
• Contacting owners of animals which have bitten someone
• Returning animals to owners
• Operating and maintaining a nuisance animal trap program
• Assisting in trapping and capturing wild animals
• Responding to emergency calls after hours

The animal control officer can be reached at 904-247-6167 or email Officer Highland. The address for the animal control office is 1460 Shetter Avenue.

Animal Control Requirements

• Animal ordinances can be found here
• Dogs prohibited on the beach between 9am - 5pm, 7 days a week
• Animals running at large in the city limits are prohibited
• No more than 3 dogs per household over 6 months of age
• There are licensing requirements for all animals in Jacksonville Beach. License(s) can be obtained from Utility Billing in City Hall. Remember: To obtain a license you must have documentation of rabies vaccination for your pet. Personal ID also is required.
• Leashes are required for dogs in all public places

New Dog Park

Dog owners now have a new place to go with their dogs! The City of Jacksonville Beach recently opened Paws Park at Wingate Park, a playground for dog owners and their dogs. Just around the corner from the Police Department and Animal Control, Paws Park is an off-leash park with a large-dog area, a small-dog area, watering bowls, benches, and an educational bulletin board. The park is also handicapped accessible.