Flint, MI Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Basis
- Behavior/bite history, not breed
- Leash
- 4 feet max, muzzled outside pen
- Insurance
- $100,000 liability coverage required
- Signage
- Posted 'Beware of Dog' sign
Summary
Flint doesn't regulate dogs by breed: instead it declares a dog 'vicious' based on bite history or dangerous behavior, then imposes strict leash, muzzle, confinement, and insurance rules.
No person shall permit a vicious dog to go outside its kennel or pen unless such dog is securely leashed with a leash no longer than four (4) feet in length. No person shall permit such a dog to be kept on a chain, rope or other type of leash outside its kennel or pen unless a person is in physical control of the leash. ... all such dogs on a leash outside of the animal's kennel must be muzzled with a muzzling device sufficient to prevent such dog from biting persons or other animals.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2016 Code: Local legislation current through Ordinance 3821, passed 3-1-2012).
Full Breakdown
Flint's ordinance is behavior-based, not breed-based: § 9-14.5 defines a 'vicious dog' as one with a history or propensity to attack or bite humans or other domestic animals. Once so declared, § 9-14.6 requires the dog be muzzled and leashed with a leash no more than four feet long whenever outside its pen, confined in a securely locked, roofed enclosure, kept off porches or rooms with only screens between it and the outdoors, marked with a posted 'BEWARE OF DOG' sign, and covered by $100,000 in public liability insurance, all within 10 days of the vicious designation.
Violations & Fines
Noncompliance is enforceable, and a court can order a vicious dog killed or confined after a show-cause hearing; owners face fines up to $500 or 90 days in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Flint ban specific dog breeds like pit bulls?
What must an owner do once a dog is declared vicious?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Flint
How Flint compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·Compare Flint to another location·View the Michigan animal ordinances overview
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