Can a Hialeah Landlord or Condo Still Ban Your Emotional Support Dog by Breed?

What Breed Rules Still Apply to Dogs in Hialeah?

None from the City of Hialeah, and none from Miami-Dade County since October 1, 2023. County licensing, leash and dangerous-dog rules still apply to every dog, ESA included.

The county ban that ended in 2023

Miami-Dade banned pit bulls under Code 5-17 from 1989. Florida's SB 942 (Chapter 2023-253) then voided every local breed, weight and size ban in the state. Hialeah had no separate ban to lose. Pit bulls are not banned in Miami either, but its condo boards work differently; see how Miami condo associations handle an ESA after the ban.

Miami-Dade licensing and leash rules in Hialeah

Hialeah uses Miami-Dade Chapter 5 for animal control. Every dog, pet or ESA, needs an annual Miami-Dade dog license and a current rabies vaccination. Dogs must be leashed off private property under § 5-20. An accommodation waives lease pet rules, not county animal law.

Dangerous-dog rules are behavior-based

How Do Hialeah Landlords, Condos and the Housing Authority Handle an ESA Dog?

A Hialeah lease, condo board or Housing Authority pet policy can restrict breeds for pets, but must set those limits aside for an approved ESA. An ESA letter from RealESALetter.com, written to meet Florida Statute § 760.27, documents the need that triggers that accommodation.

Why Hialeah listings still say "no pit bulls"

Large managed complexes in Hialeah cap a unit at two pets, set weight and breed limits, and require a PetScreening profile. Many other units are duplexes and condo conversions with one owner. In both, the breed line is a pet rule. Make the ESA request separately, in writing, and attach your ESA letter in Hialeah.

What a Hialeah landlord or board can and cannot do

A Hialeah landlord or condo board can:

• Ask for reliable documentation when the disability is not obvious
• Refuse a specific dog with a documented direct-threat history
• Bill you for actual damage the dog causes
• Apply leash and common-area rules

A Hialeah landlord or condo board cannot:

• Refuse the dog for its breed, weight or size
• Charge pet rent, pet fees or a pet deposit
• Demand a diagnosis or medical records
• Count the ESA against a two-pet cap

Hialeah Housing Authority and voucher units

SB 942 also bars public housing authorities from breed, weight and size limits. The Hialeah Housing Authority's pet policy governs pets in its units. An ESA is requested separately, through the authority's reasonable-accommodation process, with your letter attached.

Where Do You Get Help in Hialeah If a Landlord Refuses Your ESA?

Start with the Miami-Dade Commission on Human Rights, which takes Hialeah housing complaints for 365 days. Hialeah has no fair housing office of its own.

Who to call first in Hialeah

File in writing, with your letter and the refusal attached. A May 2026 HUD memo narrowed federal enforcement for untrained animals, so county and state offices come first.

If the county cannot take your case

Chapter 11A covers providers who own and rent more than three units. A Hialeah duplex owner may fall outside it, so name the right respondent or go to the Florida Commission. Keep the refusal in writing.

Conclusion

Hialeah has no breed rule of its own, and the county ban has been gone since 2023. Any "no pit bulls" line in a Hialeah lease or condo rulebook is a pet rule. It yields to an approved ESA. Make the request in writing and keep any refusal; the county's 365-day clock starts that day. If you have not been evaluated yet, check whether you qualify for an ESA first.