Volusia Council raises minimum insurance for dogs deemed dangerous to $500,000

The Volusia County Council on May 6 amended its dangerous-dog ordinance to require owners of dogs officially declared dangerous to maintain liability insurance of at least $500,000 and approved the revised ordinance 6–1.

Council members debated the measure for more than an hour during a packed meeting, with supporters saying a high insurance minimum would make owners think twice before keeping dangerous animals and provide better financial protection for victims. Opponents said the threshold could be so costly that owners would be unable to find or afford coverage and that the county risked effectively mandating euthanasia in many cases.

The council first considered a motion to set a $1 million minimum. That proposal was amended during debate to $500,000 by a motion from Councilman David Santiago, seconded by Councilman Troy Kent. The amendment passed on a 4–3 roll-call vote (Kent, Reinhart, Robbins, Santiago — yes; Dempsey, Johansen, Brower — no). After continuing discussion of enforcement and homeowner insurance coverage, the council approved the main ordinance, as amended, by a 6–1 vote (Kent, Reinhart, Robbins, Santiago, Johansen, Brower — yes; Dempsey — no).

Volusia County staff and animal-control personnel outlined the threshold that triggers the “dangerous dog” classification under county and state rules: severe injury to a person, multiple severe injuries or deaths of animals, or repeated unprovoked menacing approaches toward a person supported by affidavits and investigation. Jennifer Meister, field supervisor for Animal Services, told the council that Volusia investigates every reported bite and that only a small number of animals are ultimately deemed dangerous — 3 dogs were declared dangerous in 2024 while the county conducted 91 bite investigations that year.

The ordinance also spells out compliance requirements for owners who keep a dog after it is declared dangerous: registration fees, annual inspections, microchipping and rabies vaccination, sterilization, secured exterior enclosure or secure indoor confinement, signage, muzzling and leash requirements in public, and proof of the required liability insurance naming the policy terms that cover dog-bite liability. Staff said owners living in rental housing also must provide a landlord acknowledgement that the animal will be permitted on the property and that the owner will meet all requirements.

Council debate highlighted two recurring points: members who supported a higher minimum framed it as a deterrent that protects public safety and ensures victims can recover significant damages; opponents warned the insurance market may not write many such policies at any price and that owners could be forced to surrender animals for financial reasons rather than public-safety ones.

Council members and staff said the ordinance continues existing due-process protections for owners. Declaring a dog dangerous follows investigation and provides appeal rights to a special magistrate; owners may surrender animals for euthanasia or comply with the strict conditions spelled out in the ordinance. Staff said historically most animals deemed dangerous are surrendered or euthanized, and that long-term recidivism among declared animals in Volusia is rare.

The ordinance change tracks a new state law that establishes a minimum insurance requirement of $100,000; Volusia’s $500,000 local requirement is higher than the state floor but remains within the council’s authority. Council members instructed staff to monitor implementation and report back on any unintended impacts, including availability and cost of insurance.