Plymouth, MN Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Plymouth's dangerous-animal rules turn entirely on a dog's own behavior, not its breed. 25 of the City Code lets an Animal Control Officer refer a bite or aggression case to the City's Designated Hearing Officer for a Potentially Dangerous determination when a dog has, unprovoked, bitten a human or domestic animal, chased or approached a person in an apparent attitude of attack, or shown a known propensity to attack without provocation. A dog is escalated to a Dangerous declaration if it inflicts substantial bodily harm without provocation, kills a domestic animal off its owner's property without provocation, or, having already been noticed as potentially dangerous, goes on to bite or attack again.

25 exempts dogs whose owners can show the victim was trespassing, provoking or tormenting the dog, or committing a crime at the time. Owners get personal service of a written notice and 14 days to request a hearing before the Hearing Officer, whose decision is appealable to court. 51, carry the liability insurance or surety coverage that statute requires, and keep the dog in a proper enclosure or, whenever it is outside that enclosure, muzzled and on a substantial chain or leash under a responsible person's physical control. The Director of Public Safety can order destruction, transfer to a zoo, or owner reimbursement of impoundment costs after the hearing process runs.