Kansas City, MO Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Covered breeds
- APBT, Am. Staffordshire, Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Alteration deadline
- 30 days of ownership or ordinance date
- First offense
- Up to $500 fine plus impoundment
- Second offense
- Misdemeanor, up to 6 months jail
- Breeding permit fee
- $100.00 annually
Summary
Kansas City requires all pit bulls to be spayed or neutered unless the owner obtains a breeding permit, and impounds noncompliant dogs under City Code § 14-60.
Pit bull means any pit bull that is an American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, or any pit bull displaying the physical traits of any one or more of the above breeds... No person may own, keep, or harbor any pit bull...that has not been spayed or neutered unless: The pit bull is under eight weeks of age;...[or] cannot be spayed or neutered without a high likelihood of suffering serious bodily harm or death due to a physical abnormality.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 139 | Zoning and Development Code: Supplement 38).
Full Breakdown
Kansas City's Code of Ordinances defines "pit bull" by breed, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, or any dog with their physical traits, and requires every unaltered pit bull in the city to be spayed or neutered within 30 days of the ordinance's operative date or of acquiring the dog. Exceptions apply for puppies under eight weeks, dogs with a vet-certified medical risk, dogs in the city fewer than 30 days, show dogs with AKC/UKC papers, and owners holding a breeding permit. A first violation is an infraction with a $500 fine and impoundment; a second is a misdemeanor with up to six months in jail.
Violations & Fines
First offense: infraction, up to $500 fine plus impoundment until the dog is spayed or neutered. Second offense: misdemeanor, up to six months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine, plus impoundment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is owning a pit bull banned in Kansas City?
What breeds count as a 'pit bull' under the ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kansas City
How Kansas City compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·Compare Kansas City to another location·View the Missouri animal ordinances overview
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Breed Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Jackson County handle breed restrictions.