Lawrence, KS Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Breed rule
- No dangerous designation based solely on breed
- Size-disparity rule
- Fatal size-mismatch fight alone isn't enough
- Also protected
- Provoked, trespass and defense-of-person incidents
- No breed ban
- Chapter 3 lists no restricted dog breeds
Summary
In the City of Lawrence, the code bars its own dangerous-animal process from targeting a dog by breed: Section 3-502(d) says no animal may be declared dangerous based solely on its size or breed, or on a size disparity in a fatal fight with no sustained vicious attack. The city has no separate pit-bull or breed-specific ownership ban.
(d)Size or breed. Notwithstanding the definition of the term "dangerous animal," no animal may be declared a dangerous animal based solely on its size or breed, or mix of breed; or if death to a dog or cat occurred solely due to a size disparity between the animals and there was no sustained vicious attack on the dog or cat.
Full Breakdown
Section 3-502(d), titled 'Size or breed,' overrides the chapter's general 'dangerous animal' definition with an express limit: notwithstanding that definition, no animal may be declared dangerous based solely on its size or breed, or mix of breed. The same subsection adds a second protection for cases where a dog or cat dies fighting another animal: if the death occurred solely because of a size disparity between the animals and there was no sustained vicious attack, that alone cannot support a dangerous designation either. Section 3-502(b) reinforces the same anti-automatic approach for individual incidents, barring a dangerous designation when the injured party was on the animal's own property, a household member, was teasing, tormenting or assaulting the animal, or when the animal was defending a person or animal from what a reasonable person would see as an unjustified attack.
Read together, these provisions mean Lawrence's dangerous-animal process runs entirely on an individual animal's documented conduct, not its breed, size or appearance, and the chapter defines no separate category of restricted or banned dog breeds anywhere in Chapter 3.
Violations & Fines
Because breed or size alone can never establish a Section 3-502 dangerous-animal violation, an owner cited on breed or size grounds alone has a full defense; a valid dangerous-animal conviction instead requires proof of the animal's actual conduct and carries the chapter's enhanced fine of $75.00 to $1,000.00 and up to 180 days in jail under Section 3-103(d)(1), plus the keeping standards in Section 3-502(g).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Lawrence ban pit bulls or other specific dog breeds?
My dog killed a smaller pet in a fight, is it automatically dangerous?
What can get a dog declared dangerous in Lawrence if not its breed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lawrence
How Lawrence compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·Compare Lawrence to another location·View the Kansas animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.