Yolo County, CA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Breed Bans
- None - preempted by Food & Ag Code § 31683
- State Preemption Citation
- Cal. Food & Ag Code § 31683
- Local Vicious Animal Definition
- Yolo County Code § 6-1.313
- Dog Bite Liability
- Strict liability - Cal. Civil Code § 3342
Summary
Yolo County does not ban or restrict any specific dog breed. California Food & Agricultural Code § 31683 preempts local breed-specific dog regulations, allowing only individualized 'vicious animal' designations and (under HSC § 122331) breed-specific spay/neuter programs.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent a city or county from adopting or enforcing its own program for the control of potentially dangerous or vicious dogs that may incorporate all, part, or none of this chapter, or that may punish a violation of this chapter as a misdemeanor or may impose a more restrictive program to control potentially dangerous or vicious dogs. Except as provided in Section 122331 of the Health and Safety Code, no program regulating any dog shall be specific as to breed.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
California Food and Agricultural Code § 31683 prohibits any city or county dog-control program from being 'specific as to breed,' except as authorized by Health and Safety Code § 122331 for mandatory spay/neuter and breeding programs. Yolo County's animal-control law (Title 6 Chapter 1) accordingly regulates individual dog behavior rather than breeds: § 6-1.313 defines a 'vicious animal' as any dog or other animal (other than a police service dog) that has attacked any person or other animal without provocation off the private property where it is maintained. A vicious-animal determination triggers handling requirements (typically secure confinement, leash and muzzle when off the premises) administered by Yolo County Animal Services. State strict-liability dog bite law in California Civil Code § 3342 imposes owner liability whenever a dog bites a person in a public place or lawfully on private property, regardless of the dog's prior viciousness or the owner's knowledge.
Violations & Fines
Owners of a dog determined vicious under § 6-1.313 may face confinement and muzzle orders, posting of warning signs, mandatory liability insurance under a hearing officer's order, and impoundment for non-compliance. California Civil Code § 3342 makes the dog's owner strictly civilly liable for damages from any bite, regardless of breed or prior history. Cruelty or unsafe-confinement violations may also be prosecuted as misdemeanors under California Penal Code § 597.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are pit bulls or any other breed banned in Yolo County?
What makes a dog 'vicious' under Yolo County law?
If my dog bites someone, am I automatically liable?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yolo County
How Yolo County compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·California rules heatmap·Compare Yolo County to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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