San Bernardino County, CA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Unincorporated San Bernardino County imposes no breed ban. Instead, County Code 32.1501 requires that pit bulls and pit bull mixed-breed dogs over the age of four months be spayed or neutered. Per Animal Care, the covered 'pit bull' breeds include the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, and American Staffordshire Terrier, plus dogs that are significant mixes of these breeds. A related provision, County Code 32.1502, requires sterilization of any dog over four months old whose owner has violated state laws or County Codes regarding animals. The County has at times offered spay/neuter vouchers to help owners comply. These mandatory-sterilization rules are consistent with California Food & Agricultural Code 31683, which prohibits jurisdictions from declaring a specific breed 'potentially dangerous' or 'vicious' by breed alone, but expressly allows breed-specific spay/neuter and breeding requirements. Separately, any individual dog of any breed may be declared 'potentially dangerous' or 'vicious' based on its behavior and then regulated under County Code 32.0303, which can require secure enclosure, muzzling and leashing off-premises under adult control, warning signage, and registration with Animal Care.