Mesa, AZ Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Determination
- Police Chief hearing, 10-day notice, due process
- Immediate steps
- Leash and muzzle, indoor confinement within 1 day
- Compliance deadline
- Kennel, registration, insurance within 30 days
- Liability insurance
- $100,000 per-incident minimum required
- Penalty
- $250-$2,500 fine and/or up to 6 months jail
- Exemption
- Mesa Police Department dogs exempt
Summary
Mesa doesn't ban dog breeds, but its Police Chief can formally declare any individual dog "vicious" after a due-process hearing under Title 6, Chapter 4. Once declared, the owner must muzzle and confine the dog within one day, then secure a locked kennel, $100,000 liability insurance, and Police registration within 30 days.
(A)In the event that the Police Chief or his designee has reasonable grounds to believe that a dog may be vicious, a hearing may be convened. Dog owners are guaranteed due process hearings in the initial determination and in the completion of any appeal process with regard to said determination that their animal is a vicious dog as defined by this ordinance. ... (A)Immediate steps that must be completed within one (1) calendar day upon completion of notification of a determination of viciousness: 1.Leash and muzzle. No person shall permit a vicious dog to go outside its kennel or pen unless such dog is securely leashed with a leash no longer than six feet (6') in length. ... all vicious dogs on a leash outside the animal's kennel must be muzzled by a muzzling device sufficient to prevent such dog from biting persons or other animals.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 22).
Full Breakdown
Mesa Police Chief or a designee can initiate a vicious-dog hearing under Mesa City Code, Title 6, Chapter 4, Section 6-4-16 whenever there are reasonable grounds to believe a dog is vicious. Written notice is served on the owner and a hearing must be held within 10 calendar days; the City Magistrate or Hearing Officer rules on the preponderance of the evidence and advises the owner of the decision at the hearing or by registered letter within 10 days. If the dog is declared vicious, Section 6-4-17 sets a strict compliance timeline.
Within one calendar day, the dog must be securely leashed (no more than six feet) and muzzled whenever outside its kennel, and cannot be kept where it could exit a house or porch on its own. Within 10 days the owner must report the dog's death, any lapse or renewal of liability insurance, or a change of address to the Police Chief. Within 30 days, a deadline the Hearing Officer sets, the owner must build a locked kennel with a secure floor or two-foot buried fencing, permanently register the dog with the Mesa Police Department in addition to its annual license, post 3-inch "Vicious Dog" signs on the property and kennel, and carry $100,000 in liability insurance covering bodily injury, death, or property damage.
If the owner is a minor, the parent or guardian in physical control of the minor at the time of the underlying incident is personally liable for both the injuries caused and any violation of the chapter. Mesa Police dogs are the only exemption, under Section 6-4-19.
Violations & Fines
Failing to comply with any vicious-dog requirement is itself unlawful under Section 6-4-18. A conviction in Mesa Municipal Court carries a fine of not less than $250 and not more than $2,500, up to six months in jail, or both. The court can also order the dog impounded and destroyed, require the owner to pay all impound costs, and order restitution to any person or animal injured.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Mesa decide a dog is "vicious"?
What must an owner do once a dog is declared vicious?
What happens if an owner doesn't comply?
Are any dogs exempt from Mesa's vicious dog rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Mesa
How Mesa compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·Compare Mesa to another location·View the Arizona animal ordinances overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Breed Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Maricopa County handle breed restrictions.