What Are the Clearwater, Florida Dog Bite Laws?
Dog bite laws in Clearwater come from state and local laws. Pinellas County has rules that protect people from dangerous dogs. Dog owners must take steps to keep their dogs from hurting others under Pinellas County ordinances. The Pinellas County, Florida Code of Ordinances Chapter 14 lists the requirements for dog owners.
In addition, laws in the State of Florida also talk about dog bites. Florida law 767.04 is Florida’s dog bite law. The laws are strict, and they protect dog bite victims.

Under Florida law 767.04, a dog bite victim has the right to compensation from a dog owner if they’re the victim of a dog bite that occurs in a public place. As long as the dog bite victim is lawfully in a public or private place, they have a right to compensation from the dog owner. For example, if you’re walking in a public park and a dog bites you, the dog owner likely owes you compensation. If you’re even walking down the street and you’re bitten by a dog that runs free from their owner’s property, you likely deserve compensation for your injuries under Florida law.
Florida law puts the burden on the dog owner to keep the dog contained. It’s not up to members of the public to avoid public places. Instead, it’s up to a dog owner to control their pet. Florida lawmakers think that it’s most fair to have dog owners cover the damages if someone gets hurt because of a dog bite.