Bishop, CA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Inyo County Code Chapter 8.20 regulates dogs without singling out any breed. There is no pit bull ban and no breed-specific mandatory spay/neuter ordinance. Dangerous-dog control is behavior-based: when an animal control officer determines that a dog, because of its temper and ferocity, is a vicious dog and a menace to the public, the officer may declare it vicious and require the owner to keep it securely fastened by chain or confined within the owner's private property to prevent it from biting the public, and to post the premises with a conspicuous sign stating that a vicious dog is present. This declaration turns on the individual dog's conduct, not its breed. The County does apply differential licensing: licensing through DocuPet costs about $22 per year for a spayed/neutered dog versus about $45 for an intact dog, but this fee difference applies to all breeds equally. California law (Food and Agricultural Code section 31683) generally prohibits cities and counties from adopting breed-specific legislation that declares a dog dangerous or vicious based solely on breed, although spay/neuter programs may reference breed. Inyo County has not enacted such a breed-specific program.