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588.01 Requirements of general fence.
All fences or enclosures of land shall be substantially constructed, whether with rails,
logs, post and railing, iron, steel, or other material, and not less than 5 feet high; to
the extent of 2 feet from the ground there shall not be a space between the material used
in the construction of any fence greater than 4 inches; provided, that when any fence or
enclosure shall be made with a trench or a ditch, the same shall be 4 feet wide; and in
that case the fence shall be 5 feet high from the bottom of the ditch to the top of the
fence.
588.011 Legal fence; requirements.
(1) Any fence or enclosure at least 3 feet in height made of barbed or other soft wire
consisting of not less than three strands of wire stretched securely on posts, trees, or
other supports, standing not more than 20 feet apart; or when using battens, up to 60 feet
apart for nonelectric and 150 feet apart for electric, if constructed with high tensile
wire in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications, shall be considered as a legal
fence.
(2) Any fence or enclosure made of any other material which meets substantially the
minimum requirements or specifications mentioned in subsection (1) shall be considered as
a legal fence.
(3) Legal fences may include gateways or openings therein provided:
(a) That any such gateways shall be equipped with gates which are so constructed as to
meet the minimum requirements or specifications of a legal fence; or
(b) That any such opening shall be equipped with a cattle or livestock guard at least 6
feet in width extending to each end of the opening.
(4) The requirements of s. 588.01, shall constitute and be a legal fence to prevent the
intrusion of swine where the running at large of swine is not prohibited by law.
588.09 Legally enclosed land; fenced and posted.
(1) Land shall be legally enclosed land, or posted land, when enclosed by a legal fence,
and when there shall be placed along the boundary of said land in the manner herein
provided posted notices to the public; provided that it shall not be necessary to erect
any fence along any portion of the boundaries of the land formed by any ocean, gulf, bay,
river, creek, or lake.
(2) The fences, enclosures, and the posted notices, when erected, placed, and maintained as herein required shall be notice to the public that the land enclosed thereby is private property upon which unauthorized entry for any purpose is prohibited and shall constitute a warning to unauthorized persons to remain off of or to depart from said land.
588.10 Posted notices; requirement.
Posted notices to the public as required by s. 588.09 shall be signs upon which there
shall appear prominently, in letters of not less than 2 inches in height, the word
"posted," and in addition thereto there shall appear the name of the owner,
lessee, or occupant of said land. Said posted notices shall be placed along, on, or close
within the boundaries of any legally enclosed or posted land in a manner and in such
position as to be clearly noticeable from the outside of the enclosure, and said notices
shall be placed not farther than 500 feet apart along, and at each corner, of the
boundaries of the land, and also at each gateway or opening of the fence enclosing the
same. Said notices shall be placed along all boundaries formed by the waters mentioned
herein on trees or posts close to the banks of said waters in position so as they may be
noticeable to persons approaching the boundary formed by said waters.
588.11 Owner to maintain fences and notices.
The owner of legally enclosed land shall maintain in reasonable good condition the fence
or enclosure around such land and shall maintain in legible condition any and all posted
notices as required by ss. 588.09, 588.10, but a substantial or reasonably effective
compliance with the provisions of ss. 588.011, 588.09, 588.10, disregarding minor or
inconsequential differences in the size, shape, or condition thereof, shall be sufficient
for the purpose of evidencing the legal enclosure of said land.
588.12 Livestock at large; legislative findings.
There is hereby found and declared a necessity for a statewide livestock law embracing all
public roads of the state and necessity that its application be uniform throughout the
state, except as hereinafter provided.
588.13 Definitions.
In construing ss. 588.12-588.25 the following words, phrases, or terms shall be held to
mean:
(1) "Livestock" shall include all animals of the equine, bovine, or swine class, including goats, sheep, mules, horses, hogs, cattle, ostriches, and other grazing animals.
(2) "Owner" shall include any person, association, firm, or corporation, natural or artificial, owning or having custody of or in charge of livestock.
(3) Livestock "running at large" or "straying" shall mean any livestock found or being on any public land, or land belonging to a person other than the owner of the livestock, without the landowner's permission, and posing a threat to public safety.
(4) "Public roads" as used herein shall mean those roads within the state which are, or may be, maintained by the state, a political subdivision of the state, or a municipality, including the full width of the right-of-way, except those maintained, and expressly exempted from provisions of this chapter, by ordinance of the county or municipality having jurisdiction.
588.15 Liability of owner.
Every owner of livestock who intentionally, willfully, carelessly, or negligently suffers
or permits such livestock to run at large upon or stray upon the public roads of this
state shall be liable in damages for all injury and property damage sustained by any
person by reason thereof.
588.16 Authority to impound livestock running at large or strays.
It shall be the duty of the sheriff or her or his deputies or designees, or any other law
enforcement officer of the county, the county animal control center, or state highway
patrol officers, where livestock is found to be running at large or straying, to take up,
confine, hold, and impound any such livestock, to be disposed of as hereinafter provided.
588.17 Disposition of impounded livestock.
(1) Upon the impounding of any livestock by the sheriff or his or her deputies or
designees, or any other law enforcement officers of the county, the county animal control
center, or state highway patrolmen, the sheriff shall forthwith serve written notice upon
the owner, advising such owner of the location or place where the livestock is being held
and impounded, of the amount due by reason of such impounding, and that unless such
livestock be redeemed within 3 days from date thereof that the same shall be offered for
sale.
(2) In the event the owner of such livestock is unknown or cannot be found, service upon the owner shall be obtained by once publishing a notice in a newspaper of general circulation where the livestock is impounded (Sundays and holidays excluded). If there be no such newspaper then by posting of the notice at the courthouse door and at two other conspicuous places within said county.
Such notice shall be in substantially the following form: "To Whom It May Concern:
You are hereby notified that the following described livestock (giving full and accurate description of same, including marks and brands) is now impounded at (giving location where livestock is impounded) and the amount due by reason of such impounding is dollars. The above described livestock will, unless redeemed within 3 days from date hereof, be offered for sale at public auction to the highest and best bidder for cash. (Date) (Sheriff) of County, Florida"
(3) Unless the impounded livestock is redeemed within 3 days from date of notice, the sheriff shall forthwith give notice of sale thereof which shall be held not less than 5 days nor more than 10 days (excluding Sundays and holidays) from the first publication of the notice of sale. Said notice of sale shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the said county (excluding Sundays and holidays) and by posting a copy of such notice at the courthouse door. If there be no such newspaper then by posting such copy at the courthouse door and at two other conspicuous places in said county.
Such notice of sale shall be in substantially the following form:
"(Name of owner, if known, otherwise 'To Whom It May Concern') you are hereby notified that I will offer for sale and sell at public sale to the highest and best bidder for cash the following described livestock (giving full and accurate description of each head of livestock) at o'clock, m. (the hour of sale to be between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time) on the day of at the following place (which place shall be where the livestock is impounded or at the place provided by the county commissioners for the taking up and keeping of such livestock) to satisfy a claim in the sum of for fees, expenses for feeding and care and costs hereof. (Date) (Sheriff) of County, Florida"
588.18 Livestock at large; fees.
The fees allowed for impounding, serving notice, care and feeding, advertising, and
disposing of impounded animals shall be determined by the sheriff of each county. Damages
done by the sheriff, sheriff's designees, or any other law enforcement officer in pursuit,
or in the capture, handling, or care of the livestock are the sole responsibility of the
sheriff or other law enforcement agency.
588.19 Failure to secure purchaser or insufficient funds to defray certain costs.
If there be no bidder for such livestock at the sale aforesaid, and the sheriff has been
unable to locate the owner through the notice procedures described in this chapter, the
sheriff shall sell the livestock at the nearest livestock auction yard. The proceeds from
the sale shall be used to reimburse the expenses incurred in capturing, maintaining, and
selling the livestock and in attempting to locate the owner. Any money remaining after all
expenses are paid shall be given to the owner of the livestock, if known. In the
alternative, the sheriff may deliver the carcass to a public institution of the county,
state, or municipality within said county or to any private charitable institution, in the
order herein set forth, according to their needs.
588.20 Report of sale and disposition of proceeds.
(1) The sheriff, upon making a sale or other disposal as herein provided, shall forthwith
make a written return thereof to the clerk of the circuit court of such county, with a
full and accurate description of the livestock sold or disposed of by him, to whom, and
the sale price thereof, which report shall be filed by said clerk.
(2) At the time of making his return the sheriff shall pay over to the clerk of the circuit court the entire proceeds of the sale.
(3) The clerk of the circuit court shall pay all costs and fees as allowed in s. 588.18 if there be any balance remaining, such balance shall be paid to the owner of such livestock, provided the owner shall make satisfactory proof of ownership to the board of county commissioners within 90 days from the date the sheriff reports the sale. If proof of ownership, as aforesaid, be not made within the time mentioned, the clerk shall pay such proceeds into the fine and forfeiture fund of said county. The clerk shall keep a permanent record of all sales, disbursements, and distributions made under ss. 588.12-588.25.
(4) If the amount realized from the sale or other disposition of the animal is insufficient to pay all fees, costs and expenses as provided in ss. 588.12-588.25, the deficit shall be paid by the county from its fine and forfeiture fund.
588.21 Duty of commissioners to provide places for impounding of livestock and
transportation of same.
The county commissioners of the several counties of Florida shall establish and maintain
pounds or suitable places for the keeping of any livestock taken up and impounded
hereunder until the same shall be sold, redeemed, or otherwise disposed of, which pounds
or other suitable places may be a part of or operated in conjunction with a county animal
control center. In any case, such county commissioners shall provide truck transportation
for the impounded animals.
588.22 Duty of impounder.
The sheriff or county animal control center, whichever is designated by the board of
county commissioners, shall provide feed for the impounded animals and see that such
livestock shall have feed and water not less than twice a day and that all milk cows and
milk goats are milked twice a day. The sheriff or county animal control center shall
employ poundmasters, guards, or other persons as may be necessary to protect, feed, care
for, and have custody of, the impounded animals and the sheriff or county animal control
center shall be entitled to the fees herein allowed for such feed and care.
588.23 Right of owner.
The owner of any impounded livestock shall have the right at any time before sale thereof
to redeem the same by paying to the sheriff all impounding expenses, including fees,
keeping charges, advertising, or other costs incurred therewith which sum shall be
deposited by the sheriff with the clerk of the circuit court who shall pay all fees and
costs as allowed in s. 588.18. In the event there is a dispute as to the amount of such
costs and expenses, the owner may give bond with sufficient sureties to be approved by the
sheriff, in an amount to be determined by the sheriff, but not exceeding the fair cash
value of such livestock, conditioned to pay such costs and damages; thereafter, within 10
days, the owner shall institute suit in equity to have the damage adjudicated by a court
of equity or referred to a jury if requested by either party to such suit.
588.24 Penalty.
Any owner of livestock who unlawfully, intentionally, knowingly or negligently permits the
same to run at large or stray upon the public roads of this state or any person who shall
release livestock, after being impounded, without authority of the impounder, shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s.
775.083.
588.25 Application; limitation.
The provisions of ss. 588.12-588.25 shall not apply to counties having special laws or
general laws of local application requiring the confinement and restraint of livestock;
provided, however, where the provisions of such special laws or general laws of local
application do not prohibit livestock from running upon or straying upon the public
highways, or the provisions of such special laws or general laws of local application do
not provide for liability of owners of livestock for damages and injuries caused by such
livestock, or provide less severe penalties than imposed by s. 588.24, the provisions of
this act shall apply in each such case as if the provisions hereof were inserted in full
in any such special law or general law of local application. Provided, further, that if
any such special law or general law of local application is found unconstitutional or in
any way inoperative, then this act shall be in full force and effect in the county, or
counties, affected.
Amended in 1999, 2000.
Reviewed and updated by AAHS in December 2001.
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