Columbia, MO Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Basis
- Behavior-based: no breed-specific ban
- Confinement
- Locked kennel, 10 feet from property line
- Outdoors
- 4-foot leash and muzzle required
- Registration
- $300 annual fee, department of health
Summary
Columbia, Missouri (Boone County) regulates dangerous or aggressive animals by behavior, not breed: any animal that bites, growls menacingly, or causes reasonable fear of injury must be securely confined, leashed, and muzzled.
No person shall own, keep, harbor or allow to be in or upon the person's premises any dangerous or aggressive animal unless it is confined in accordance with the provisions of this section. An animal is dangerous or aggressive: (1) If it bites or otherwise injures any person or domestic animal or pet, or (2) If it habitually snaps at, growls or otherwise manifests a disposition to bite, attack or injure any person or domestic animal or pet, or (3) If it causes any person to have a reasonable fear of immediate serious physical injury.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 138).
Full Breakdown
Columbia Code of Ordinances § 5-57 defines a 'dangerous or aggressive animal' by conduct, biting or injuring a person or pet, habitually snapping or growling, or causing reasonable fear of serious injury, not by breed; the city has no breed-specific ban. Such an animal must be confined in a locked kennel at least ten feet from any property line, or, when taken outside, leashed to no more than four feet and muzzled. Owners must register the animal annually with the department of health for $300, and it must be microchipped and spayed or neutered at the owner's expense.
Violations & Fines
Failing to confine, leash, muzzle, or register a declared dangerous animal under § 5-57 lets an animal control officer impound it; a municipal judge may order the animal destroyed on conviction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Columbia, Missouri ban pit bulls or other breeds?
What must a Columbia owner do with a declared dangerous animal?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Columbia
How Columbia compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·Compare Columbia to another location·View the Missouri animal ordinances overview
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