Sonoma County, CA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

There is no breed-specific ban in unincorporated Sonoma County. California state law controls this question: Food and Agricultural Code Section 31683 prohibits any city or county from adopting a dangerous-dog law that is specific to breed, meaning no breed or mixed breed may be declared potentially dangerous or vicious simply because of its breed. The only breed-specific local authority the statute leaves open is the ability to require mandatory spay/neuter or breeding restrictions for a breed, and even then a breed may not be labeled dangerous or vicious on that basis.

Consistent with state law, Sonoma County's Animal Regulation Ordinance (County Code Chapter 5) regulates dangerous and vicious animals based on an individual animal's conduct, with potentially dangerous and vicious animal provisions in Article XI, rather than by breed. So owners of any breed are treated the same under county law; a specific dog can be designated potentially dangerous or vicious only through its own behavior and the due-process findings in the ordinance. Always verify current requirements with Sonoma County Animal Services, since enforcement focuses on behavior, licensing, and rabies compliance rather than breed.