North Hempstead, NY Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Basis for restriction
- dog's conduct, not breed
- Vicious dog defined
- fighting or attack training, § 14-2
- Minimum owner age
- 21 years old, § 14-20A
- Existing licenses
- age rule applies at renewal
- General Chapter 14 penalty
- up to $250, 15 days jail
- Breed named in Code
- none
Summary
North Hempstead does not ban or single out any dog breed. Town Code § 14-2 instead defines a 'vicious dog' by conduct, trained for fighting or to attack on command, and § 14-20 bars anyone under 21 from owning or getting a license for one.
VICIOUS DOGS A. Any dog owned, harbored or trained primarily or in part for the purpose of dog fighting; B. Any dog owned, harbored or trained primarily or in part for the purpose of attacking a human being or domestic animal upon command. ... § 14-20. Vicious dogs. A. No individual may own or obtain a license for a vicious dog unless the individual is at least 21 years of age. An applicant for a license for a vicious dog must present adequate proof of age to the town's licensing authority.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4892187; v82 updated 2026-04-21; through 04-21-2026).
Full Breakdown
' That definition, added by Local Law No. 8-1995 and amended by Local Law No. 1-2004, turns on what the dog has been trained or kept to do, not on its breed, so a North Hempstead resident cannot be cited under this chapter based on breed alone. ' Section 14-20B addresses dogs already licensed as vicious before this rule took effect: the age requirement applies as of that dog's next license renewal, so an existing owner under 21 is not immediately stripped of a lawfully held license but must satisfy § 14-20 to renew it.
Nothing elsewhere in the Town Code, including the zoning and general provisions chapters, singles out pit bulls, Rottweilers or any other breed by name; regulation in North Hempstead runs entirely on the dog's own conduct or training history.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 14 doesn't carve out a separate fine for the vicious-dog age rule; a violation of § 14-20, like most other Chapter 14 sections besides the leash rule in § 14-9, falls under the general penalty in § 14-18B: up to $250 or 15 days in jail per offense, in addition to the Town Clerk's authority to deny or refuse to renew the vicious-dog license itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does North Hempstead ban pit bulls or other specific breeds?
How old do I have to be to own a dog classified as vicious?
I'm under 21 and already have a licensed vicious dog. What happens now?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in North Hempstead
How North Hempstead compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·New York rules heatmap·Compare North Hempstead to another location·View the New York animal ordinances overview
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