Maryland regulates dogs by individual behavior, not breed. Under Courts and Judicial Proceedings Section 3-1901, liability for a dog attack applies without regard to the dog's breed, abolishing the former pit-bull-specific rule, so no Harford County breed ban exists.
Maryland treats all dog breeds equally. The 2014 statute at Courts and Judicial Proceedings Section 3-1901, enacted after Tracey v. Solesky, sets a single breed-neutral standard: a dog that causes injury creates a rebuttable presumption the owner knew of its dangerous propensities, and the common law of liability applies without regard to the breed or heritage of the dog. This abolished the earlier pit-bull-specific strict liability. Harford County therefore has no breed ban; dangerous dogs are handled by individual behavior, and Maryland Criminal Law Section 10-619 makes keeping a dangerous dog that attacks a separate offense. Landlords and insurers may still restrict breeds by contract.
A dog is restricted only through an individual dangerous-dog determination based on its own behavior, not its breed. Keeping a dangerous dog that attacks is a separate offense under Maryland Criminal Law Section 10-619.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Harford County, MD
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See how Harford County's breed restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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