New York, NY Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Breed-specific ban
- None citywide
- "Dangerous dog" test
- Behavior only, not breed
- Old pit bull rule
- Health Code § 161.08, repealed
- Registration fee if declared dangerous
- $25
- Liability insurance commissioner may order
- $100,000
Summary
New York City does not restrict dogs by breed. Administrative Code § 17-342 defines a "dangerous dog" purely by conduct, and the old Health Code rule aimed at pit bulls was repealed and replaced by this breed-neutral standard.
"Dangerous dog" means (1) any dog that when unprovoked, approaches, or menaces any person in a dangerous or terrorizing manner, or in an apparent attitude of attack, upon the streets, sidewalks, or any public grounds or places; or (2) any dog with a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack when unprovoked, to cause injury or to otherwise endanger the safety of human beings or domestic animals; or...(4) any dog owned or harbored primarily or in part for the purpose of dog fighting or any dog trained for dog fighting.
Full Breakdown
New York City regulates dogs by behavior, not breed. Administrative Code § 17-342 defines a "dangerous dog" as one that menaces, has a known propensity to attack, bites without provocation, or is kept or trained for dog fighting: breed is never listed as a factor. Health Code § 161.08, which once specifically regulated pit bulls, is now repealed, with an editor's note pointing owners to the breed-neutral Admin Code sections instead. Under § 17-345, the Health Commissioner may declare any individual dog dangerous only after a complaint and hearing, then order registration, muzzling, secure confinement, liability insurance, or removal.
Violations & Fines
An owner who ignores a dangerous-dog order (no muzzle, no secure enclosure, no $100,000 liability policy) risks confiscation of the dog and further Health Department enforcement; a dog that kills or severely injures a person can be ordered humanely destroyed regardless of breed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does New York City ban pit bulls or other dog breeds?
How does a dog get officially declared dangerous in NYC?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in New York
How New York compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·New York rules heatmap·Compare New York to another location·View the New York animal ordinances overview
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