Allentown, PA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

No Allentown ordinance imposes breed-specific restrictions, and state law would void any that tried to. Pennsylvania's Dog Law, 3 P.S. Sec. 459-507-A (Construction of article), preempts the field: it abrogates local ordinances relating to dangerous dogs and provides that a local ordinance dealing with dogs 'may not prohibit or otherwise limit a specific breed of dog.' As a result, Allentown regulates dangerous dogs by individual conduct, not by breed. Under the state dangerous-dog provisions (3 P.S. Sec. 459-502-A and following), a dog of any breed may be declared a 'dangerous dog' after it attacks, inflicts severe injury, or kills a domestic animal without provocation, and the owner must then register the dog annually, maintain liability insurance, post warning signs, and confine the dog securely. Insurance carriers or landlords may still impose private breed conditions, but the City government cannot.