BIE - Service Animals (10/8/2025)City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
TO: Mayor Steven Meiner and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Eric Carpenter, City Manager
MEETING DATE: October 29, 2025
SUBJECT: BUSINESS IMPACT ESTIMATE FOR:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH,
FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 62 OF THE CITY CODE, ENTITLED “HUMAN
RELATIONS,” BY AMENDING ARTICLE II, ENTITLED “DISCRIMINATION,” BY AMENDING
DIVISION 3, ENTITLED “REGULATIONS,” BY CREATING SECTION 62-93 THEREOF,
ENTITLED, “SERVICE ANIMALS,” BY ADOPTING REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO
SERVICE ANIMALS; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, CODIFICATION, AND AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
Is a Business Impact Estimate Required?
☑Yes ☐No (If no, please check one of the boxes below)
If one or more boxes are checked below, this means the City of Miami Beach has
determined that a Business Impact Estimate for the above-referenced Ordinance is not
required by State law.
☐The proposed Ordinance is required for compliance with Federal or State law or
regulation;☐The proposed Ordinance relates to the issuance or refinancing of debt;☐The proposed Ordinance relates to the adoption of budgets or budget
amendments, including revenue sources necessary to fund the budget;☐The proposed Ordinance is required to implement a contract or an agreement,
including, but not limited to, any Federal, State, local, or private grant or other
financial assistance accepted by the City;☐The proposed Ordinance is an emergency ordinance;☐The Ordinance relates to procurement; or☐The proposed Ordinance is enacted to implement the following:
a.Private applications for comprehensive plan amendments and land
development regulation amendments;
b.Development orders, development permits, and development agreements;
c.Sections 190.005 and 190.046, Florida Statutes, regarding community
development districts;
d.Section 553.73, Florida Statutes, relating to the Florida Building Code; or
e.Section 633.202, Florida Statutes, relating to the Florida Fire Prevention Code.
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Business Impact Estimate
Page 2
If none of the above exceptions apply, this Business Impact Estimate is hereby provided
in accordance with Section 166.041(4), Florida Statutes.
1. A summary of the proposed Ordinance and its purpose is more fully set forth in the
Commission Memorandum accompanying the Ordinance, as well as in the recitals to the
Ordinance itself. The Commission Memorandum and Ordinance are attached hereto.
2. The City of Miami Beach estimates that the proposed Ordinance will have no direct
economic impact on private, for-profit businesses in the City of Miami Beach; that the
proposed Ordinance will have no direct compliance costs that businesses may
reasonably incur; that the proposed Ordinance will not impose any new charge or fee for
which businesses will be financially responsible; and that the proposed Ordinance will not
impact the City of Miami Beach’s regulatory costs and will not generate any revenue from
new charges or fees.
3. Good faith estimate of the number of businesses likely to be impacted by the proposed
Ordinance:
The City of Miami Beach estimates that no businesses are likely to be impacted by the
proposed Ordinance.
4. Additional comments: None.
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Ordinances - R5 U
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO:Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM:City Attorney Ricardo J. Dopico
DATE:September 17, 2025 11:00 a.m. First Reading Public Hearing
TITLE:AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 62 OF THE CITY CODE,
ENTITLED “HUMAN RELATIONS,” BY AMENDING ARTICLE II, ENTITLED
“DISCRIMINATION,” BY AMENDING DIVISION 3, ENTITLED “REGULATIONS,” BY
CREATING SECTION 62-93 THEREOF, ENTITLED, “SERVICE ANIMALS,” BY
ADOPTING REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO SERVICE ANIMALS; AND
PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, CODIFICATION, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
RECOMMENDATION
BACKGROUND/HISTORY
ANALYSIS
The proposed ordinance, sponsored by Commissioner Laura Dominguez, is submitted for
consideration by the Mayor and City Commission.
Service animals perform critical work and tasks that enable individuals with disabilities to access
accommodations open to the public and housing accommodations on an equal basis with others.
In order to ensure equal access for all, Florida Statute § 413.08 establishes rights and
responsibilities relating to the use of service animals by disabled persons, including protection
against discrimination in public accommodations and housing accommodations, and provides for
criminal penalties for any person, firm, or corporation who interferes with such rights. Moreover,
Fla. Stat. § 413.08 also provides criminal penalties for any person who knowingly and willfully
misrepresents himself or herself through conduct or verbal/written notice, by using a service
animal and/or being qualified to use a service animal fraudulently.
The proposed Ordinance essentially mirrors these protections in order to ensure clarity,
enforceability, and consistency within the City. The adoption of the proposed Ordinance will
promote public awareness, prevent discrimination, and enhance accessibility for residents and
visitors with disabilities requiring the use of a service animal. Additionally, the proposed
Ordinance will safeguard businesses and housing providers against the misuse of service animal
laws by unscrupulous individuals. Equally important, violations of the proposed Ordinance
(unless accompanied by a State or County law violation) will be prosecuted by the City’s Municipal
Prosecution Team.
FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
None at this time.
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Does this Ordinance require a Business Impact Estimate? Yes
(FOR ORDINANCES ONLY)
If applicable, the Business Impact Estimate (BIE) was published on:
See BIE at: https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/city-hall/city-clerk/meeting-notices/
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
CONCLUSION
Applicable Area
Citywide
Is this a “Residents Right to Know” item,
pursuant to City Code Section 2-17?
Is this item related to a G.O. Bond
Project?
No No
Was this Agenda Item initially requested by a lobbyist which, as defined in Code Sec. 2-481,
includes a principal engaged in lobbying? No
If so, specify the name of lobbyist(s) and principal(s):
Department
City Attorney
Sponsor(s)
Commissioner Laura Dominguez
Co-sponsor(s)
Condensed Title
11:00 a.m. 1st Rdg PH, Service Animals. (Dominguez) CA
Previous Action (For City Clerk Use Only)
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