New Rochelle, NY Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Regulated by
- Trained behavior, not breed
- Registration required with
- City Clerk
- Sign size required
- At least 12 by 12 inches
- Sign wording
- 'Beware, Dangerous Dog on Premises'
- Penalty
- Up to $250 fine or 15 days jail
- Former pit bull ban
- Repealed 2001 (Ord. No. 130-2001)
Summary
New Rochelle has no breed-specific dog ban: a former Pit Bull Terriers ordinance was repealed in 2001. Instead, City Code § 89-14 regulates any dog trained to attack, called a guard or attack dog, requiring the owner to register it with the City Clerk and post a 12-by-12-inch 'Beware, Dangerous Dog on Premises' sign.
No person shall keep or harbor any guard dog, herein defined as a dog trained to attack any person or creature coming upon the premises containing such guard dog, nor attack dog, herein defined as a dog trained to attack upon command, unless such person shall first register with the City Clerk, on forms provided by the Clerk, a description of such dog, give the address of the premises where the dog will be kept within the City and the name of the owner and post, in a conspicuous place on the premises containing such a dog, a sign not less than 12 inches by 12 inches in size bearing the legend, "Beware, Dangerous Dog on Premises."
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4601407; v60 updated 2025-12-02; through 12-02-2025).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 89, Article V, targets dangerous behavior rather than breed. Section 89-14 defines a 'guard dog' as one trained to attack any person or creature coming onto the premises where it is kept, and an 'attack dog' as one trained to attack on command; owning or harboring either type without registering is unlawful. Registration is filed with the City Clerk on forms the Clerk provides and must include a description of the dog, the address of the New Rochelle premises where it will be kept, and the name of the owner.
' An offense against Article V is punishable, under § 89-15, by a fine of not more than $250 or imprisonment of not more than 15 days, or both. 2, records that former Article VII, Pit Bull Terriers, adopted September 14, 1987 by Ordinance No. 256-1987, was repealed June 19, 2001 by Ordinance No. 130-2001. That repeal means the City currently regulates dangerous dogs solely by trained behavior under § 89-14, with no ordinance singling out any breed by name.
Violations & Fines
Keeping or harboring a guard dog or attack dog in New Rochelle without registering it with the City Clerk, or without posting the required 12-by-12-inch 'Beware, Dangerous Dog on Premises' sign, violates § 89-14. The penalty under § 89-15 is a fine of not more than $250, imprisonment of not more than 15 days, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does New Rochelle ban pit bulls or other specific breeds?
What counts as a 'guard dog' under New Rochelle's law?
What must I do if I keep an attack-trained dog at home?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in New Rochelle
How New Rochelle compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·New York rules heatmap·Compare New Rochelle to another location·View the New York animal ordinances overview
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Breed Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Westchester County handle breed restrictions.