Fall River, MA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Registration deadline
- Annually by April 1
- Liability insurance required
- $100,000 minimum
- Confinement pen size
- Minimum 5 ft by 10 ft
- Off-property leash/muzzle
- Lead not over 3 feet
- Violation consequence
- Permanent citywide ban
Summary
Fall River doesn't restrict dogs by breed, state law bars that, but a dog individually declared dangerous or vicious faces strict confinement, muzzling, insurance, and can be permanently banned from the City.
While on the owner's property, a dangerous or vicious dog must be securely confined indoors or in a securely enclosed and locked pen or structure, suitable to prevent the entry of young children, and designed to prevent the dog from escaping. Such pen or structure must have a minimum dimension of five feet by 10 feet and must have secure sides and a secure top. If it has no bottom secured to the sides, the sides must be imbedded into the ground no less than two feet. The enclosure must also provide protection from the elements for the dog.
(1) The owner or keeper shall display a sign on his premises facing out from all sides of the premises warning that there is a dangerous or vicious dog on the property. The sign should be visible and capable of being read from a public highway or thoroughfare or within 20 feet of its placement. In addition, the owner shall conspicuously display a sign with a symbol warning children who cannot read of the presence of a dangerous or vicious dog.
(2) A dangerous or vicious dog may be off the owner's premises if it is muzzled and restrained by an approved lead or chain not exceeding three feet in length and is under the control of an adult, able-bodied person. The muzzle must be made in a manner that will not cause injury to the dog or interfere with its vision or respiration, but must prevent it from biting any person or animal.
(3)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4739915; v14 updated 2025-12-23; through 12-23-2025).
Full Breakdown
Fall River doesn't regulate dogs by breed. Instead, a dog is individually declared dangerous or vicious (including any dog with a verified bite report) and then faces specific local controls: on the owner's property it must be confined in a locked pen at least five feet by 10 feet with secure sides and a top; off-property it must be muzzled and led on a leash no longer than three feet by an able-bodied adult. Owners must register the dog every year by April 1 with a photo and carry at least $100,000 in liability insurance naming the City as co-insured.
Violations & Fines
Letting a declared dangerous or vicious dog roam unconfined or off-leash violates § 6-15(D)-(E); the owner faces a § 6-12 fine, and the dog is permanently banned from Fall River and destroyed if found here again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Fall River ban specific dog breeds?
What insurance does a dangerous dog owner need?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fall River
How Fall River compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·Compare Fall River to another location·View the Massachusetts animal ordinances overview
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Breed Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Bristol County handle breed restrictions.