Maricopa, AZ Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

“Vicious Animal” means any animal of the order of Carnivora, which without provocation, has a propensity to attack, to cause injury or to otherwise endanger the safety of human beings, domestic animals, or animals maintained for commercial purposes, or that has been so declared after a hearing before a Justice of the Peace.

B. The following shall be prima facie evidence of an animal’s vicious nature:

1. Has, without provocation, attacked or bitten a person engaged in a lawful activity; or

2. Has, while off the property of the owner and without provocation, killed or seriously injured another animal or;

3. Has, without provocation, chased, confronted or approached a person on a street or sidewalk or other public property in a menacing fashion such as would put an average person in fear of attack; or

4. Has, exhibited a propensity, tendency or disposition to attack, cause injury or threaten the safety of a person or other animal without provocation; or

5. Has attacked in a manner that causes or should cause its owner to know that it is potentially vicious.

6. Has been trained for dog fights or is owned or kept for dog fighting.Section IX.

A. Kennels:

1. Definitions:

a. Kennel means an enclosed, controlled area, inaccessible to other animals, in which a person keeps, harbors or maintains five or more dogs under controlled conditions.