Glendale, CA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Section 31683 of the California Food and Agricultural Code sits at the end of the state's Potentially Dangerous and Vicious Dogs chapter and sets the outer boundary on what Glendale may do: "Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent a city or county from adopting or enforcing its own program for the control of potentially dangerous or vicious dogs that may incorporate all, part, or none of this chapter, or that may punish a violation of this chapter as a misdemeanor or may impose a more restrictive program to control potentially dangerous or vicious dogs.

" In practical terms, Glendale cannot pass a pit bull-specific or Rottweiler-specific ordinance; any local dangerous-dog rule has to apply by conduct, not breed. The Legislature's own findings in Section 31601 explain why the state occupies this field: potentially dangerous and vicious dogs "have become a serious and widespread threat to the safety and welfare of citizens of this state," attributable in large part to "the failure of owners to register, confine, and properly control" them. Section 31602 defines a "potentially dangerous dog" as one that, unprovoked, engages twice in 36 months in behavior requiring a defensive action off its owner's property, bites causing a minor injury, or twice attacks another animal off-property, and Section 31641 requires any dog given that designation to carry it on its license record, with the city allowed to charge an added potentially-dangerous-dog fee.

045 of the Glendale Municipal Code defines a "vicious dog" by conduct, not breed, as one that bites or attempts to bite without reasonable provocation or that is trained to fight, excludes bites suffered by trespassers, tormentors or attackers, and makes an owner who knows or should know the dog is vicious guilty of a misdemeanor if it bites again. 075, a vicious dog returned to its owner after impoundment must stay indoors or in a securely fenced yard and may leave the property only on a substantial leash under an adult's control.