Bethlehem, PA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Approach
- Behavior-based, not breed-specific (1159.15(F))
- Covered dogs
- Fierce/dangerous/vicious dogs and dogs in heat
- Release condition
- Held pending Police Commissioner approval
- Field authority
- May be slain if unsafe to capture
- Fines
- $100-$1,000+, plus impounding fees (1159.99)
Summary
Bethlehem does not regulate dogs by breed, but any dog of fierce, dangerous or vicious propensities, or a female dog in heat, cannot run at large or roam another owner's property. Officers impound such dogs on sight, and a dog too dangerous to safely capture may be slain in the field.
No dog of fierce, dangerous or vicious propensities and no female dog in heat, whether licensed or not, shall be allowed to run at large or upon the premises of one other than the owner. Whenever any such dog is found running at large in violation of this article, it shall be taken up and impounded and shall not be released except upon approval of the Police Commissioner after payment of the fines provided herein. Any dangerous, fierce or vicious dog found running at large which cannot be safely taken up and impounded may be slain by the Officer or any police officer.
Full Breakdown
15(F) of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Bethlehem, part of Article 1159's dog enforcement remedies, singles out dogs of fierce, dangerous or vicious propensities alongside unspayed female dogs in heat: neither may run at large or trespass on premises other than the owner's, licensed or not. Any such dog found running at large must be taken up and impounded by the Animal Control Officer or any police officer, and it cannot be released back to its owner except with the approval of the Police Commissioner after the required fines are paid.
If a dangerous, fierce or vicious dog cannot be safely captured and impounded, the Officer or a police officer is authorized to kill it on the spot. 15(B) and (C), which give an owner ten days to reclaim a seized dog by paying feeding and impounding charges of $25 per day plus a $50 processing fee before an unclaimed dog may be sold or, if diseased, destroyed. Bethlehem's ordinance is behavior-based rather than breed-based; it does not name or restrict any specific breed, and Pennsylvania's Dog Law separately governs formal dangerous-dog registration statewide.
Violations & Fines
Owning or harboring a fierce, dangerous, or vicious dog that runs at large exposes the owner to impoundment under Section 1159.15(F) and to the general Article 1159 penalty schedule in Section 1159.99: $100 to $250 for a first offense, escalating to $1,000 or more for a fourth or later offense, with each day of noncompliance a separate violation, in addition to feeding and impounding charges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Bethlehem ban pit bulls or other specific breeds?
What happens if my dangerous dog gets loose?
Can the City kill a dangerous dog found loose?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bethlehem
How Bethlehem compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·Compare Bethlehem to another location·View the Pennsylvania animal ordinances overview
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