Palm Desert, CA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Article 6.18 of the Palm Desert Municipal Code regulates dangerous animals in the City of Palm Desert, and § 6.18.020 supplies the definitions. A dangerous animal is one that has twice within a 48 month period, in two separate incidents, pursued, attacked, bitten or injured a person or animal engaged in lawful activity short of substantial injury; one that once caused death or substantial injury; one already declared potentially dangerous whose owner failed to restrain it as directed; or a dog declared potentially dangerous under California state law during a legal hearing. A potentially dangerous animal is one that once pursued, attacked or bit a person with less than substantial injury, once attacked or bit another animal, or is found actively pursuing dogs, cats or animals. Substantial injury means impairment needing professional medical treatment, such as loss of consciousness, concussion, bone fracture, disfiguring lacerations or a wound requiring multiple sutures.

Section 6.18.030 sets the procedure. If the county of Riverside has cause to believe an animal is potentially dangerous, the animal control officer issues a restraint order, served by hand delivery or by certified and first-class mail, requiring the owner to keep the animal at all times in a secure enclosure or other specified restraint. The owner has 10 calendar days after service to request a hearing in writing. The hearing is held within 10 working days of the request before an officer selected by the city manager or designee, can be continued for up to 30 days, and ends with a written decision within 10 days. Missing the request deadline or the hearing waives the right to a hearing. A confirmed animal goes on a county list and can come off if no further incident occurs within 48 months of the restraint order.

A secure enclosure must keep young children out and the animal in. A chain that lets a person walk within its length, an electric collar and an invisible fence do not qualify. For a dangerous animal, § 6.18.040 lets the county impound or destroy it as a public nuisance independently of any criminal case, with conditions such as $100,000.00 of liability insurance, spaying or neutering, a microchip or tattoo, muzzles and inspection without warrant. Section 6.18.050 requires a posted sign with letters at least two inches wide and high reading "Beware of vicious dog" or "Beware of vicious animal." Section 6.18.060 requires written notice to the city and county at least 15 days before a restricted animal is moved or transferred, and notice within 24 hours if it dies. An animal declared dangerous or vicious outside the city cannot be relocated into it.