Indiana has no statewide breed ban and no law preempting one, so the state is silent on breed-specific rules. St. Joseph County and South Bend regulate dogs by individual dangerous behavior, not by breed, so no pit bull ban exists here.
Indiana does not ban any dog breed and has no statute either requiring or forbidding breed-specific local laws, so the question is left to each community. St. Joseph County and the cities of South Bend and Mishawaka regulate dogs through dangerous- and vicious-dog provisions keyed to an individual animal's conduct, such as an unprovoked attack, rather than by breed. No pit bull or other breed ban is in force in the county. A dog is declared dangerous only after specific behavior, then faces confinement, muzzling, or registration. Landlords and insurers may still restrict breeds by private contract.
A dog is restricted only through an individual dangerous- or vicious-dog determination based on its own behavior, which can require confinement, muzzling, or removal. Breed alone is not a violation here.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
St. Joseph County, IN
St. Joseph County does not regulate holiday lights, inflatables, or yard displays on homes. No county or municipal ordinance limits seasonal decorations; onl...
St. Joseph County, IN
Garage-sale signs are temporary signs in St. Joseph County, up to 24 square feet per frontage and two per lot in residential districts under Zoning Ordinance...
St. Joseph County, IN
St. Joseph County allows political yard signs as temporary signs. Zoning Ordinance §154.373 exempts signs up to 2 square feet from permits; a larger temporar...
St. Joseph County, IN
South Bend requires every non-occupant landlord to register rentals annually by September 1. Indiana Code 36-1-20-5 caps the fee at five dollars. Unincorpora...
St. Joseph County, IN
Indiana has no just-cause eviction. In St. Joseph County a landlord may end a tenancy without giving a reason. For unpaid rent, IC 32-31-1-6 requires at leas...
St. Joseph County, IN
Rent control is illegal in St. Joseph County. Indiana Code 32-31-1-20 bars any unit, including South Bend, Mishawaka, and the county, from regulating rental ...
See how St. Joseph County's breed restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.