New York, NY Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Manhattan, like all of New York State, is preempted from enacting breed specific legislation under New York Agriculture and Markets Law section 123, which was amended in 1997 and reinforced in subsequent case law to bar any municipality from regulating dogs by breed. There are no pit bull bans, Rottweiler restrictions, or other breed prohibitions anywhere in New York County. Instead, individual dogs may be declared dangerous under AG&M Law 123 after a court hearing that considers the specific behavior, bite history, and provocation. A dangerous dog determination can result in muzzle orders, mandatory liability insurance of up to 100,000 dollars, microchipping, and in severe cases euthanasia. The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene runs the NYCHA Pet Policy separately, which governs housing authority apartments and does impose weight limits (40 pounds) and a breed list for NYCHA tenants only. Private co-ops and condos may also set breed or weight limits in their house rules, but those are private contract rules, not municipal law. The ASPCA and Animal Care Centers of NYC manage licensing, shelter intake, and bite reports.