Florida Ranks High for Pet-Friendly Cities in the U.S.

Tampa, Orlando, and St. Petersburg have emerged as top contenders for pet-friendly cities in the United States for 2026. A recent analysis evaluated factors ranging from veterinary care costs to the availability of parks and pet-welcoming housing.

The study, conducted by WalletHub, assessed the 100 most populated cities across the nation using 23 metrics in three major categories: the budget required to own a pet, animal health and wellness, and the ease of enjoying outdoor spaces with pets.

WalletHub's ranking, based on data collected up to July 7, 2026, considered factors like veterinary costs, dog insurance premiums, the number of veterinarians, pet sitters, trainers, specialty stores, pet-friendly rentals, animal shelters, dog parks, green spaces, and walkability.

Florida impressively placed three cities in the top six. Tampa secured second place nationwide, Orlando claimed fourth, and St. Petersburg landed in sixth.

Florida's Pet-Friendly Cities Shine

Leading the list is Scottsdale, Arizona, as the most pet-friendly city, followed by Tampa; Las Vegas, Nevada; Orlando; Cincinnati, Ohio; and St. Petersburg.

Tampa scored 63.51 points, notably excelling in pet health services. It ranked eighth in the pet health and wellness category, 25th in budget, and 15th for outdoor conditions.

WalletHub highlights Tampa's strong presence of veterinarians and animal shelters. Additionally, nearly 89% of rental listings analyzed allow pets, and there is a high availability of doggie daycares and boarding facilities.

The city also boasts numerous dog parks and pet-friendly restaurants, with veterinary and care provider costs among the 15 lowest in the cities studied.

Orlando and St. Petersburg: Top Contenders

Orlando claimed the fourth spot nationally with 58.66 points, excelling in animal health and wellness, where it ranked seventh.

The city tied for first place nationwide for the number of dog-friendly restaurants per capita and ranks high in veterinarian availability per resident.

St. Petersburg earned 57.84 points, coming in sixth. It ranked 12th in health and wellness and stood out particularly for its pet-related businesses, securing fourth place nationally in such establishments per capita.

Other Florida Cities in the Ranking

Other major Florida cities ranked lower. Miami was 43rd with 51.53 points, Jacksonville 54th with 50.56, and Hialeah 69th with 48.94 points.

Miami, however, excelled in veterinarian availability per capita, tying for first place with Tampa, Orlando, Las Vegas, and Cincinnati.

Hialeah faced challenges, ranking low in pet-friendly restaurants and dog parks per resident.

In a nation where nearly 95 million households own pets, the findings are significant. The American Pet Products Association projects Americans will spend around $165 billion on pets in 2026.

Florida's high rankings add to its accolades in various WalletHub studies. In late 2025, Orlando and Miami ranked second and third among the most fun cities in the U.S., evaluated on entertainment, nightlife, and costs.

The state also shines in the real estate market. In 2024, five Florida cities topped the list for first-time homebuyers: Palm Bay, Cape Coral, Port St. Lucie, Tampa, and Orlando.

That same year, another study placed several Florida cities among the best for starting a business, with Orlando leading, followed by Tampa, Jacksonville, and Miami.