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Hanford, CA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Significant Restrictions

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

Key Facts

Governing test: Behavior (bite/attack), not breed
Owner notice: Within 2 business days of impoundment
Hearing request window: 5 business days of impoundment
Destruction if no appeal: 5 business days after impoundment
Destruction after lost hearing: 10 business days after decision
Judicial review: Writ of mandate, Kings Co. Superior Court
Underlying attack: Separate misdemeanor, § 6.16.090

Summary

Hanford does not ban dogs by breed: California Food and Agricultural Code § 31683 bars breed-specific ordinances, so Municipal Code § 6.16.010 targets behavior instead, declaring any animal that has attacked, bitten, or injured a person or another animal 'dangerous/vicious' regardless of breed. A declared animal is impounded, and the owner gets a hearing before the city orders euthanasia, retraining probation, or return.

It is unlawful for a person to keep a dangerous/vicious animal as the term is defined in Section 6.16.020. Any animal which has been found to be dangerous/vicious pursuant to the ordinance code of the city, or of this county, or any other county or city pursuant to any state statute, shall be conclusively presumed to be dangerous/vicious. ... "Dangerous/vicious animal" means an animal determined by the animal control officer to have attacked, bitten or caused injury to any human or other animal.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4873707; v4 updated 2026-03-17).

Full Breakdown

020 defines that term by conduct, not breed: an animal the animal control officer determines has attacked, bitten, or caused injury to a person or another animal. Any animal already declared dangerous/vicious by Hanford, Kings County, or another city or county under state law is conclusively presumed dangerous/vicious here too. 040. 070 unless the owner requests an appeal within five business days. 050 where the owner may be represented by an attorney, call and cross-examine witnesses, and rebut the evidence; the animal is presumed dangerous/vicious and the owner bears the burden of proving otherwise.

060, the hearing officer can clear the animal, revoke its license and order retraining probation for negligent handling, or find it dangerous/vicious and order it humanely destroyed no sooner than the tenth business day after the decision is mailed. 070 sets the actual destruction triggers: five business days after impoundment with no appeal request, or 10 business days after a hearing officer's or Kings County Superior Court's decision upholding the dangerous/vicious finding. 6. 090.

Violations & Fines

Owning, possessing, or harboring an animal after it has been declared dangerous/vicious is itself unlawful under § 6.16.070(A), on top of the misdemeanor charge under § 6.16.090 for the underlying attack, bite, or injury. Missing the five-business-day window to request a hearing, or the appeal window after a hearing officer's decision, waives the right to challenge the finding and clears the way for the animal control officer to sign a destruction order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Hanford ban specific dog breeds like pit bulls?

No. California Food and Agricultural Code § 31683 bars cities from writing breed-specific dog programs, so Hanford Municipal Code § 6.16.020 defines a 'dangerous/vicious animal' entirely by conduct: one the animal control officer determines has attacked, bitten, or injured a person or another animal. Breed, size, and appearance play no role in the declaration.

What happens after Hanford declares my dog dangerous/vicious?

The animal is impounded under § 6.04.040, and if it wears a license tag you get written notice within two business days. You have five business days to request a hearing under § 6.16.030; without a timely request, the animal control officer can order the animal destroyed five business days after impoundment.

Can I appeal a dangerous/vicious animal finding in Hanford?

Yes, in two stages. First, a public administrative hearing before a hearing officer appointed by the city manager under § 6.16.050, where you may present evidence and cross-examine witnesses. Second, if you lose, judicial review by filing a petition for writ of mandate with the Kings County Superior Court under Code of Civil Procedure § 1094.6.

Will Hanford always destroy a dog found dangerous/vicious?

Not necessarily. Under § 6.16.060(A)(2), if the hearing officer finds the bite or attack resulted from improper or negligent training or handling rather than the animal itself being dangerous/vicious, the license can be revoked and the owner placed on a probationary retraining period under § 6.16.080 instead of the animal being destroyed.

Sources & Official References

[1]Hanford Municipal Code Ch. 6.16, Dangerous Animals

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How Hanford compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·California rules heatmap·Compare Hanford to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview

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