Norwalk, CT Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Adopted in 1988 and rewritten in 2001, Chapter 15's Article II responds to what § 15-12 calls a "serious and widespread threat" from vicious dogs, declaring that owning or harboring one is itself a nuisance. Rather than list restricted breeds, § 15-14 lets the Dog Warden refer a dog to the Board of Police Commissioners whenever there is probable cause it is vicious; the Board or its designee must hold a hearing within five to ten days of notifying the owner, and the hearing is open to the public.

Under § 15-14B, the Board may declare a dog vicious if it bites, assaults, or attacks a person or domestic animal without provocation, or if it is owned, harbored, or trained for dog fighting. Section 15-14C blocks a vicious declaration if the injury happened while the victim was trespassing, committing a crime, or teasing, tormenting, or assaulting the dog, or if the dog was defending its owner's premises or a nearby person from an unjustified attack. Once declared vicious, § 15-14D requires the Dog Warden to impound the dog immediately, and a refusal to surrender lets police seek a search warrant.

Section 15-15 then gives the Board two options: order destruction after a 14-day appeal period, with the owner paying a $99 fine plus seizure and destruction costs, or postpone destruction if the owner accepts eight conditions covering licensing, $200,000 liability insurance, a tattooed license number, warning signage, spay/neuter, a secure enclosure, and muzzled restraint outside it.