Placer County, CA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Placer County does not impose breed-specific legislation such as a pit bull or Rottweiler ban. Instead, the County Code regulates individual dogs based on documented behavior. 030 establishes definitions of 'potentially dangerous dog' and 'vicious dog' that mirror and supplement California Food & Agricultural Code Section 31621 et seq. A 'potentially dangerous dog' includes a dog that, when unprovoked, on two separate occasions within the prior 36 months requires defensive action by a person, bites a person causing a less-than-severe injury, or kills or seriously injures another animal off the owner's property.

A 'vicious dog' includes a dog that, when unprovoked, inflicts severe injury on or kills a human, or a previously-declared potentially dangerous dog whose owner continues the behavior. California law (Food & Ag Code Section 31683) expressly allows cities and counties to regulate dangerous dogs but generally prohibits breed-specific declarations of dangerousness; Placer County's ordinance follows that behavior-based approach. 040), a dog declared potentially dangerous or vicious becomes subject to strict ownership conditions including spay/neuter, microchipping, secure enclosure, muzzling, and a six-foot leash off the property.