Dayton, OH Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Dayton R.C.G.O. § 91.53
- Breed-specific rule
- none: behavior-based only
- Dangerous dog test
- per Ohio R.C. § 955.11
- Public-place requirement
- secured and muzzled
- Vicious dog rule
- ownership banned citywide, § 91.50(B)
Summary
Dayton has no breed-specific dog law; instead it regulates by behavior, requiring any dog classified 'dangerous' under state law to stay secured and muzzled whenever it's in public.
(A)No person shall permit or cause a dangerous dog to be unsecured or at large, or to go unmuzzled in a public place, street, or alley.(B)Any animal found in violation of this section is subject to impoundment, and its owner is responsible for all costs associated with that impoundment. (R.C. § 955.28)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 35).
Full Breakdown
Section 91.53 doesn't name any breed, Dayton's general code defines 'dangerous dog' by conduct, borrowing the Ohio Revised Code § 955.11 test for a dog with a history of biting or causing harm without provocation. Once a dog carries that classification, § 91.53(A) bars its owner from letting it go unsecured, at large, or unmuzzled in a public place, street, or alley, and (B) makes any dangerous dog found in violation subject to impoundment at the owner's expense under R.C. § 955.28. Separately, § 91.50(B) goes further and bans owning a 'vicious dog', one that kills or seriously harms without provocation, anywhere in the city outright.
Violations & Fines
Fourth-degree misdemeanor under § 91.99(C); a vicious dog under § 91.50(B) is a first-degree misdemeanor with mandatory minimum jail time and fine on a repeat offense within five years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Dayton ban pit bulls or other specific breeds?
What must a dangerous dog's owner do in public?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dayton
How Dayton compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·Compare Dayton to another location·View the Ohio animal ordinances overview
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