Mendocino County, CA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Mendocino County's ordinance targets behavior, not breed. 10 defines a program for controlling any animal declared vicious, whether or not it is a dog, based on findings such as an unprovoked attack, a demonstrated propensity to attack, or training the animal for fighting, and it exempts dogs used by the Sheriff or police in law enforcement work. 010(B), every owner of a vicious animal must, in addition to holding the required permit, carry public liability insurance covering at least $50,000 per incident for bodily injury, death, or property damage, with ten days' written notice to Animal Control before the policy can be cancelled.

Owners who cannot meet the insurance requirement must forfeit the animal to Animal Care Services. 010(C) bars a vicious animal from being left unconfined where it could exit on its own, requires a permanent 'Beware of Vicious Dog' or 'Beware of Vicious Animal' sign at least two inches high posted where the public can see it, and requires any outdoor enclosure to pass a structural inspection first. 020 limits a vicious animal to a leash no longer than four feet, held by an adult, with a muzzle required whenever the animal leaves its pen.

030 adds that owners of a vicious or potentially dangerous dog must have the animal microchipped, spayed or neutered, and properly licensed with the license record flagged as vicious or potentially dangerous, and must report the animal's death, relocation, or sale to Animal Control.