Calvert County, MD Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Section 7-5-201 defines a potentially dangerous animal as one that has had an altercation with or attacked a person, domestic animal or livestock without causing severe injury, or that has chased or approached a person in an attitude of attack while off its owner's property and was personally observed by an Animal Control Officer or law enforcement officer, or reported by a sworn witness affidavit, or that has already been designated potentially dangerous by another jurisdiction. Section 7-5-202(B) escalates an animal to 'dangerous' if it was previously found potentially dangerous and the owner failed to comply with the resulting requirements, was found potentially dangerous more than once, caused severe injury or death to a person, domestic animal or livestock, or was already designated dangerous elsewhere.

Neither determination turns on the animal's breed; both are built entirely on documented incidents and Animal Control Division review of bite and scratch reports, affidavits, police reports and veterinary or medical records. Both sections carve out the same defenses: no finding is made if the victim was trespassing, provoking or assaulting the animal, committing a crime, if the animal was defending its young or another animal, responding to pain, or if the animal belongs to a government or law-enforcement agency. Once designated, an owner can petition the Animal Matters Hearing Board to remove a potentially dangerous designation after two violation-free years.