Madera, CA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

23, part of Chapter 1 of the Animals title, targets behavior rather than breed. A dog is presumed vicious if, unprovoked, it inflicts an injury on a person that causes muscle tears, disfiguring lacerations, requires multiple sutures or surgery, or kills someone, or if a dog already listed as potentially dangerous repeats that behavior after its owner is notified. A dog is potentially dangerous if, unprovoked, it engages twice within 36 months in behavior requiring a defensive action off its owner's property, bites someone causing a lesser injury, or twice within 36 months kills or injures a domestic animal off its owner's property.

The Madera Police Department investigates any reported incident, and if the Police Chief or a designee finds probable cause, they certify that finding in writing within ten working days and can direct any animal control officer or police officer to enter the yard of a private residence or business to seize the dog, whether running at large or not, and confine it at an animal shelter pending a hearing. The Auxiliary Services Supervisor schedules the hearing five to ten working days out and gives the owner at least five working days' notice; an Administrative Hearing Officer weighs oral and documentary evidence and must rule within ten working days.

A dog found vicious is declared a public nuisance and can be ordered humanely destroyed, removed from the city, or otherwise abated through confinement, fencing, muzzling or leashing. Impoundment costs become a lien against the property where the dog was kept if unpaid within 30 days.