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Salt Lake County, UT Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Breed-specific ban
None: behavior-based only
Permit
Required once designated dangerous
Insurance
$100,000 liability minimum
Penalty
Class B misdemeanor or felony
Each violation
Separate offense

Summary

Salt Lake County bans no dog breed. Under County Code §8.06.100, an animal individually designated dangerous needs a dangerous animal permit, and the designation under §8.01.010 turns on the animal's training, treatment, or physical condition, never on breed.

City-specific rules exist: West Valley City, West Jordan, Sandy, South Jordan, and Salt Lake City have their own breed restrictions rules that differ from Salt Lake County's county-level regulations. If you live in one of those cities, check the city-specific page instead.

All animals designated as dangerous require a dangerous animal permit and owners must follow all of the requirements therein. Any animal deemed as dangerous by the appropriate animal control agency are required to follow all of the provisions of this title, regardless of whether or not a dangerous animal permit is currently held. A person who violates this section shall be subject to a Class B misdemeanor or felony as permitted by state law. Each violation of this section shall be a separate offense.

(Ord. No. 1877, § VII, 4-27-2021)

Source: Salt Lake County Municipal CodeView official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 49).

Full Breakdown

' Because the test examines how an individual animal was trained, treated, or physically conditioned, no breed is banned or named anywhere in the title. Any breed can be designated dangerous by the appropriate animal control agency, and no breed is presumed dangerous without that designation. 100 requires its owner to obtain a dangerous animal permit and follow all of the permit's requirements. The section also closes the obvious loophole: an animal deemed dangerous by the animal control agency must follow all of the provisions of the title regardless of whether a dangerous animal permit is currently held, so skipping or abandoning the permit does not lift a single restriction.

120 and include at least $100,000 in liability insurance, warning signage, secure confinement, and a muzzle-and-leash rule whenever the animal leaves the property. 100 was adopted by Ordinance No. 1877 on 4-27-2021.

Violations & Fines

Violating §8.06.100 is a Class B misdemeanor or, as state law permits, a felony, and each violation is a separate offense, so ongoing noncompliance with the dangerous animal provisions can stack multiple charges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Salt Lake County ban pit bulls or other breeds?
No. The dangerous animal definition at §8.01.010 turns on the individual animal's training, treatment, or physical condition, not its breed, so no breed is singled out by name.
What does a dangerous animal permit require?
Under §8.03.120: at least $100,000 in liability insurance, warning signage, secure confinement, and a muzzle and leash whenever the animal leaves the property.
What if the owner never gets the permit?
The restrictions apply anyway. §8.06.100 says a designated animal must follow all of the title's provisions regardless of whether a permit is currently held, and each violation is a separate Class B misdemeanor or, as state law permits, a felony.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Salt Lake County

All Salt Lake County rules

How Salt Lake County compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·Compare Salt Lake County to another location·View the Utah animal ordinances overview

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