Breed Restrictions
Animal Ordinances
Bans or special requirements for specific dog breeds, including breed-specific legislation, muzzle requirements, and insurance mandates.
How Breed Restrictions Rules Differ by Place
Burbank, CA: No Breed Bans; Dangerous-Dog Rules Are Breed-Neutral
Heavy RestrictionsBurbank imposes no breed-specific restrictions. Its potentially-dangerous and vicious-animal rules are based on behavior, and California Food and Agricultural Code section 31683ā¦
Corona, CA: Dog Breed Restrictions in Corona
Heavy RestrictionsCorona does not enforce breed-specific legislation (BSL) banning specific dog breeds. California Food and Agriculture Code Ā§31683 prohibits cities from declaring a dog dangerous solelyā¦
Downey, CA: Downey Dangerous and Vicious Dog Rules
Heavy RestrictionsDowney Municipal Code Section 4235 defines any dog with a proven disposition to attack or bite without provocation as a "wild or vicious animal" and bars keeping such an animal, orā¦
Birmingham, AL: No breed bans; dangerous-dog law is breed-neutral
Few RestrictionsBirmingham does not impose a breed-specific ban. Alabama's dangerous-dog law (Emily's Law) is expressly breed-neutral: a dog is judged dangerous by its conduct, regardless of breedā¦
Huntsville, AL: Huntsville Has No Breed-Specific Dog Bans
Few RestrictionsHuntsville's dangerous-animal law applies to any animal regardless of species or breed: the city bans no specific breed and instead declares individual animals dangerous only afterā¦
Anchorage, AK: Anchorage Has No Breed-Specific Dog Ban
Few RestrictionsAnchorage's animal code classifies dogs as dangerous by specific bite or aggression behavior under AMC 17.40, not by breed: there's no pit bull or breed-specific ban in the Municipalā¦
Breed Restrictions Rules by State
Statewide law governs this topic in many states. Each entry links to that state's full page.
California
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Food and Agriculture Code section 31683 preempts cities from banning specific dog breeds, though localities may regulate spay-neuter and breeding by breed.
Colorado
Some RestrictionsColorado initially preempted breed-specific bans but the Court of Appeals upheld home-rule authority. Currently, Colorado municipalities may enact or repeal breed restrictionsā¦
Connecticut
Few RestrictionsConnecticut state law expressly preempts municipalities from enacting breed-specific dog regulations, prohibiting any city or town ordinance that bans, restricts, or regulates dogsā¦
Delaware
Few RestrictionsDelaware Code Title 16 Subchapter V prohibits classifying any dog as dangerous or potentially dangerous based solely on its breed or perceived breed, effectively preventingā¦
Illinois
Few RestrictionsIllinois prohibits municipalities from declaring dogs dangerous or vicious solely based on breed under the Animal Control Act, requiring conduct-based determinations only.
Maine
Few RestrictionsMaine state law expressly preempts all breed-specific dog ordinances: no Maine city or town may ban pit bulls, Rottweilers, or any other breed. Dangerous-dog rules must be based onā¦
Massachusetts
Few RestrictionsMassachusetts state law expressly preempts municipalities from regulating dogs based on breed. Local breed-specific bans are void under state statute.
Nevada
Some RestrictionsNevada law prohibits any local government from adopting or enforcing ordinances that declare a specific breed of dog inherently dangerous or vicious. Cities and counties cannot banā¦
New York
Few RestrictionsAgriculture and Markets Law section 107(5) preempts municipalities from enacting breed-specific dog regulations, ensuring uniform treatment regardless of breed across New York.
Ohio
Heavy RestrictionsOhio repealed automatic pit bull dangerous classification in 2012, requiring individual behavioral assessment statewide, though cities retain home rule to enact breed restrictions.
Oklahoma
Few RestrictionsOklahoma state law expressly prohibits municipalities from enacting breed-specific dog regulations, preempting any city ordinance that bans or restricts dogs based on breed alone.
Pennsylvania
Few RestrictionsPennsylvania state law prohibits municipalities from enacting breed-specific legislation that restricts dogs solely based on their breed or appearance.
Rhode Island
Few RestrictionsRhode Island law expressly prohibits municipalities from enacting breed-specific dog regulations. Under Section 4-13-43 and Section 4-13.1-16, no city or town may adopt or enforceā¦
South Carolina
Some RestrictionsSouth Carolina regulates dangerous dogs at the state level under Title 47, Chapter 3. The state does not impose breed-specific bans, leaving most breed restrictions to localā¦
South Dakota
Few RestrictionsSouth Dakota expressly PREEMPTS breed-specific dog regulation statewide. Per SDCL 40-34-16 (effective 2014): 'No local government, including a unit of local government with a home ruleā¦
Texas
Few RestrictionsTexas Health & Safety Code 822.047 prohibits any Texas city or county from regulating dogs based on breed. Local breed bans against pit bulls, Rottweilers, or other breeds areā¦
Virginia
Few RestrictionsVirginia state law preempts breed-specific legislation by prohibiting any locality from declaring a dog dangerous solely on the basis of breed.
Washington
Heavy RestrictionsWashington RCW 16.08 governs dangerous and potentially dangerous dogs through behavior-based standards rather than breed identity, requiring registration, secure confinement, andā¦
Cities & Counties with Breed Restrictions Rules
579 locations
Alabama
Arizona
California
Other Animal Ordinances Topics
Chickens & Livestock
Combined rules for keeping chickens and other livestock such as goats, rabbits, and ducks on residential property, including lot size requirements.
Dog Leash Laws
When and where dogs must be on a leash, off-leash park rules, leash length limits, and penalties for dogs running loose.
Beekeeping
Rules for keeping bees in residential areas, including hive placement, number of colonies allowed, and registration requirements.
Exotic Pets
Which non-traditional pets are allowed or banned, such as reptiles, ferrets, potbelly pigs, and other exotic animals.
Wildlife Feeding
Rules about feeding wild animals like deer, coyotes, or feral cats, and requirements for securing trash to prevent wildlife encounters.
Pet Limits
Maximum number of cats, dogs, or other companion animals allowed per household, including counts that trigger kennel-license requirements.
Cat Rules
Rules specific to cats, outdoor roaming, feral cat colonies, leash laws (yes, some cities require them), and licensing requirements.
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Requirements that dogs and cats over a certain age be sterilized, with intact-animal permits, exemptions for breeders, and penalties for noncompliance.
Microchipping
Mandates that dogs and cats be microchipped before leaving a shelter or by a certain age, including registration and tag requirements.
Coyote Management
How your city handles urban coyotes, including hazing protocols, feeding bans, and what residents should do when sighting one near homes.
Pet Store Rules
Restrictions on retail pet sales, including bans on commercially bred dogs and cats and rescue-only sourcing requirements.
Pet Groomer Rules
Health and safety standards for commercial pet grooming, including animal-handling certifications, sanitation, and zoning where mobile groomers may operate.
Veterinary Clinic Zoning
Where veterinary clinics, animal hospitals, and emergency animal-care facilities may be located, including overnight-boarding and noise buffers.
Bird Protection
Local rules protecting specific bird species (LAMC Ā§53.55), including penalties for trapping or harming protected species and bird-safe building design.
Wildlife Rescue Permits
CDFW and city permits required to rehabilitate injured wildlife, including the Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit program and approved holding facilities.