Maui County, HI Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Breed considered?
- No, explicitly excluded
- Governing section
- § 6.04.046(A)(2)
- Standard used
- Individual behavior, not breed
- Growling/barking alone
- Not sufficient for designation
- Appeal window
- 10 days to dangerous dog board
Summary
Maui County's dangerous dog ordinance is written to be breed-neutral: section 6.04.046 tells enforcement officers a dog's breed cannot be considered when deciding whether it is dangerous. A dog is designated dangerous only for what it actually did, such as biting or threatening someone, not for its breed.
A.Dangerous dog designation.1.An enforcement or animal control officer may designate a dog as dangerous if the officer has probable cause to believe that the dog has committed any of the following:a.While on or off the owner's property, attack a person, causing bodily injury to the person; ... 2.A dog's breed shall not be considered when making the determination of whether a dog is dangerous.3.Mere growling or barking or a combination of both shall not constitute grounds upon which to designate a dog dangerous.
Full Breakdown
046(A)(1) only on probable cause that it attacked a person causing bodily injury, attacked another pet or livestock animal off the owner's property causing serious injury or death, or behaved in a way a reasonable person would view as an imminent threat of injury to a person or animal. 046(A)(3) adds that mere growling or barking, alone or together, is not enough to support a dangerous designation either. Maui regulates individual dog behavior, not any list of breeds, and no chapter of the county code singles out pit bulls, Rottweilers or any other breed for a ban, extra insurance or a special permit.
046(C), including confinement, muzzling, microchipping, spay or neuter, liability insurance and mandatory training, and the owner can appeal the designation to the dangerous dog adjudication and appeals board within ten days.
Violations & Fines
Because there is no breed ban to violate, no fine attaches to owning a particular breed in Maui County. A dog that is actually designated dangerous for its conduct, and whose owner then fails to comply with the confinement, muzzle, insurance or microchip conditions of section 6.04.046(C), is subject to a fine of $500 to $1,000, up to thirty days imprisonment, or both, under section 6.04.110(C).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Maui County ban pit bulls or other dog breeds?
How does Maui decide if a dog is dangerous, if not by breed?
What happens after a dog is designated dangerous in Maui County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Maui County
How Maui County compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·Compare Maui County to another location·View the Hawaii animal ordinances overview
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