Caldwell, ID Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Caldwell City Code section 08-03-05 defines DANGEROUS ANIMAL as any animal which, due to its size, breed, temperament, health, training or lack of training, location, use, or other circumstance poses a risk of injury to any person, adding that no animal is or may be declared dangerous if the animal is startled, abused, harassed or otherwise provoked. Breed is listed only as one of eight named factors alongside size, temperament, health, training, location and use; the code contains no list of restricted or banned breeds anywhere in the animal control article.

Under section 08-03-25(3), it is unlawful to own, possess or have custody of a dangerous animal within the City unless the animal is secured at all times within an enclosure on the owner's property, and a court of competent jurisdiction must first find the animal dangerous before that enclosure duty attaches; if a court finds the animal is not dangerous, it is returned to the owner without impound-fee liability. A separate, harsher vicious animal category under section 08-03-25(1) turns on documented unprovoked attacks or a history of being bred or trained for fighting, again without naming any breed. Caldwell's scheme is therefore behavior-based and case-by-case, not a breed-specific ban or registration requirement.