Phoenix has no breed-specific dog ban. Arizona state law, A.R.S. Sec. 9-499.04(C), prohibits any city or town from regulating dogs in a way specific to any breed, so pit bulls and other breeds are legal citywide.
There is no breed-specific provision anywhere in Phoenix City Code Chapter 8; the city regulates dogs only by behavior (at-large, vicious, biting) and not by breed. This reflects Arizona's statewide preemption: A.R.S. Sec. 9-499.04(C) provides that 'A city or town may regulate the control of dogs if the regulation is not specific to any breed.' Enacted by SB 1248 (2016), this statute forbids Arizona municipalities from enacting or enforcing breed-based dog ordinances, making breed-specific legislation (BSL) unlawful in Phoenix. Dangerous-dog issues are instead handled through the 'vicious animal' definition in Sec. 8-1 and the biting-animal procedures in Sec. 8-16, all of which apply regardless of breed.
Not applicable to owners; the statute restrains the city. Any breed-specific ordinance would be void under A.R.S. Sec. 9-499.04(C).
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Maricopa County.
See how other cities in Maricopa County handle breed restrictions.
See how Phoenix's breed restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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