Lancaster, CA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Restricted breeds
- Pit Bulls and Rottweilers only
- First violation penalty
- Infraction, fine up to $250
- Second violation penalty
- Misdemeanor, up to 6 months jail / $1,000
- Minimum breeding age
- 2 years old
- License exceptions
- Hunting, law enforcement, service dogs
- Breed determination appeal window
- 10 days after notice
Summary
Lancaster singles out Pit Bulls and Rottweilers as 'restricted dogs' and requires every unaltered one to be spayed or neutered or licensed under a strict unaltered-dog permit, with impoundment and fines up to $1,000 or six months in jail for repeat violations under Municipal Code Chapter 6.08.
A. The following breeds of dogs are "restricted dogs," and are subject to the mandatory spay, neutering, and unaltered dog license requirements of this chapter: 1.Pit Bulls, as defined in Section 6.08.010; and 2.Rottweilers, as defined in Section 6.08.010. B. No person may own, keep, or harbor a restricted dog in violation of this section. ... The penalties for violations of any provision of this chapter are as follows: A. First violation. A first violation shall be an infraction punishable by a fine not to exceed $250. If the owner or custodian fails to correct the underlying cause of the violation within 30 days after being notified of the violation, it shall be deemed a second violation. B. Second violation. A violation within a year of a first violation shall be deemed a second violation. A second violation is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed six months or by a fine not to exceed $1,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 10 - 2025).
Full Breakdown
08's mandatory spay and neuter program defines 'restricted dogs' as Pit Bulls, meaning American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, or any dog whose physical characteristics predominantly match AKC, UKC or ADBA standards for those breeds, and Rottweilers matching the same registries' breed standard (Sec. 010). 030. That license requires an annual fee, proof the dog is registered with a recognized breed registry, and passing health screens including OFA hip and heart certification and a temperament test, unless the dog is a trained hunting, law enforcement or service dog.
No one may breed a restricted dog under two years old, and within 30 days of a litter the owner must report the number of live puppies to the department, including the microchip number of any puppy sold before four months old (Sec. 060). An impounded unaltered restricted dog is released only once it is spayed or neutered, or the owner signs a sworn statement promising to have that done within ten days, and unpaid impoundment costs become a lien on the dog (Sec. 080).
Violations & Fines
A first violation of Chapter 6.08 is an infraction punishable by a fine up to $250, which escalates to a second violation if the owner does not correct the problem within 30 days of notice. A second violation, or any repeat within a year of the first, is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in county jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both, with each further violation in that year charged as an additional misdemeanor (Sec. 6.08.070).
Frequently Asked Questions
Which dog breeds are restricted in Lancaster, CA?
Can I keep an unaltered Pit Bull or Rottweiler in Lancaster?
What is the penalty for violating Lancaster's breed-specific spay law?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lancaster
How Lancaster compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·California rules heatmap·Compare Lancaster to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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