Butte County, CA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Breed-Specific Ban
- None (preempted)
- Preempting State Statute
- Cal. Food & Agric. Code § 31683
- Permitted Breed-Specific Rule
- Mandatory spay/neuter only (HSC § 122331)
- Local Designation Framework
- Food & Agric. Code §§ 31602–31683
- Owner Liability for Bites
- California Civil Code § 3342 (strict liability)
Summary
Butte County does not impose any breed-specific ban or designation of dangerous or vicious dogs. California Food and Agricultural Code § 31683 expressly preempts breed-specific potentially-dangerous or vicious designations; only spay/neuter and breeding ordinances may be breed-specific under Health and Safety Code § 122331.
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. Except as provided in Section 122331 of the Health and Safety Code, no program regulating any dog shall be specific as to breed.
Full Breakdown
California state law sets the floor for how local governments may regulate dangerous and vicious dogs and forbids breed-specific designations. Food and Agricultural Code § 31683 states: '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.
' Health and Safety Code § 122331 carves out a narrow exception under which a city or county may enact breed-specific mandatory spay/neuter and breeding requirements, but expressly forbids those ordinances from declaring any specific breed or mixed breed to be potentially dangerous or vicious. Butte County has not enacted a breed-specific potentially-dangerous-dog ordinance and instead enforces the generally applicable Chapter 4 dog-control rules (licensing, leash, dogs-at-large, barking) and California's potentially-dangerous / vicious-dog designation framework in Food and Agricultural Code §§ 31602–31683 and California Civil Code § 3342 (strict liability of the owner for dog bites in a public place or while lawfully in a private place).
Violations & Fines
Because no breed-specific Butte County ordinance exists, enforcement of a 'dangerous' or 'vicious' dog runs through the California Food and Agricultural Code Chapter 9 administrative hearing process initiated by an Animal Control officer or the District Attorney. A potentially dangerous designation can require secure confinement, posting, leash and muzzle requirements, and microchipping; a vicious dog finding can result in destruction of the dog. Owners are also strictly liable for damages under Civil Code § 3342 when a dog bites a person in a public place or while the victim is lawfully on private property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are pit bulls or any other breed banned in Butte County?
Can a homeowners' association in unincorporated Butte County ban a breed?
Could Butte County require my Doberman to be spayed because of its breed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Butte County
How Butte County compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·California rules heatmap·Compare Butte County to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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