Muncie, IN Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Declaration authority
- Board of Animal Care and Services
- Hearing notice
- certified mail or in person
- Off-property restraint
- leash max 3 feet, muzzled
- Alteration deadline
- 30 days of declaration
- First-offense restraint fine
- $100.00
- Judicial review window
- 10 days
Summary
Muncie has no breed-specific ban; instead City Code § 90.08(C) lets the board of animal care and services declare any individual animal "potentially dangerous or vicious" after a hearing, based on its behavior such as an unprovoked attack. A declared animal must be confined, muzzled off-property, and altered within 30 days, or it may be euthanized.
Vicious animals. If an animal control officer or a law enforcement officer has investigated and determined that there exists probable cause to believe that an animal is potentially dangerous or vicious, the animal control officer shall request a hearing by the board of animal care and services for the purpose of determining whether or not the animal in question should be declared potentially dangerous or vicious. ... A potentially dangerous animal, while on the owner/temporary caretaker's property, shall, at all times, be kept indoors, or in a secured enclosure from which the animal cannot escape, and into which children cannot trespass. A potentially dangerous animal may be off the owner/temporary caretaker's premises only if it is restrained by a substantial leash of appropriate length, and if it is under the control of an adult.
Full Breakdown
Under § 90.08(C), an animal control officer or law enforcement officer who finds probable cause that an animal is potentially dangerous or vicious as defined in § 90.01(W) (an unprovoked attack on a person, an attack on another animal off the owner's property, or menacingly chasing a person) must request a hearing before the board of animal care and services. The owner gets certified-mail or in-person notice and may present evidence, including that the animal was provoked or acted in response to trespass, teasing or abuse.
If the board declares the animal dangerous or vicious, § 90.08(C)(9)-(10) requires it to be kept indoors or in a secured, locked enclosure with a secure top and bottom whenever outdoors at home, and muzzled and leashed to no more than three feet with handgrip whenever off the enclosure. The owner must post warning signs at every entry point and on the enclosure under (C)(11), and the animal cannot be bred and must be surgically altered within 30 days under (C)(12) unless a veterinarian certifies it cannot reproduce or that altering would harm its health.
A board finding that release would threaten public safety allows humane euthanasia under (C)(7)(b); decisions are final subject to a petition for judicial review in city court within ten days under (C)(7)(e), and an owner may request reconsideration of the designation once per year under (C)(14).
Violations & Fines
Failing to restrain a declared vicious or potentially dangerous animal draws a $100.00 fine for a first offense and $150.00 for each repeat within 12 months under § 90.08.01(B)(5). Failing to post required warning signs costs $50.00, failing to report a change in the animal's status costs $50.00, and failing to have the animal altered within 30 days of the declaration costs $100.00.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Muncie ban specific dog breeds?
What happens after Muncie declares a dog vicious?
Can an owner challenge a dangerous-dog declaration?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Muncie
How Muncie compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·Compare Muncie to another location·View the Indiana animal ordinances overview
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