Erie does not have a breed-specific ordinance and cannot enact one. Pennsylvania's Dog Law at 3 P.S. Section 459-507-A(c) preempts local breed bans: a local ordinance otherwise dealing with dogs may not prohibit or otherwise limit a specific breed of dog. Erie regulates dangerous behavior on an individual-dog basis through its Article 505 nuisance and vicious-animal provisions, aligned with the state dangerous-dog statute at 3 P.S. Section 459-502-A enforced through the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County.
Pennsylvania has had statutory preemption of breed-specific local ordinances since the Dangerous Dog Act amendments. Section 459-507-A(c) at https://codes.findlaw.com/pa/title-3-ps-agriculture/pa-st-sect-3-459-507-a.html states that a local ordinance otherwise dealing with dogs may not prohibit or otherwise limit a specific breed of dog, and abrogates earlier conflicting local ordinances. Erie, as a Third Class City, is bound by this state-level limit on its police power and has not enacted any breed-specific list. Erie's Article 505 (Animals and Fowl) of the Codified Ordinances at https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/erie/ instead regulates dogs by behavior — restraint, nuisance, dangerous, and vicious classifications — never by breed or appearance. The state Dangerous Dog Act at 3 P.S. Section 459-502-A (https://codes.findlaw.com/pa/title-3-ps-agriculture/pa-st-sect-3-459-502-a/) defines 'dangerous dog' based on attacks causing severe injury, attacks without provocation, killing or maiming a domestic animal, or being used in commission of a crime — never by breed. Pit bulls, Rottweilers, German shepherds, Doberman pinschers, and similar breeds receive the same legal treatment as any other dog in Erie. Insurance discrimination by breed is also limited under Section 459-507-A. Owners of dogs adjudicated dangerous must maintain at least $50,000 in liability insurance, a secure enclosure, and posted warning signs.
Because breed-specific local ordinances are state-preempted, no Erie citation can be issued solely based on a dog's breed. Behavior-based dangerous-dog citations under 3 P.S. Section 459-502-A are summary offenses for an initial unprovoked attack and grade up to misdemeanors and felonies for severe attacks; cases are heard in the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County. Failing to comply with dangerous-dog registration, enclosure, and insurance requirements carries additional state penalties plus potential seizure of the animal by Pennsylvania Dog Wardens.
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See how Erie's breed restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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