Ridgecrest, CA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Basis
- Behavior, not breed
- Determination made by
- City health officer
- Order
- Secure chain or confinement
- Applies
- City of Ridgecrest, Kern County
Summary
Ridgecrest has no breed-specific ban; instead, the health officer can declare an individual dog vicious based on its behavior and order it kept chained or confined at all times under City Code § 3-106.
If it shall be determined by the health officer, after giving the order of quarantine mentioned in section 3-80 that said dog is a vicious dog, although not afflicted with rabies, the health officer shall thereupon order the person who owns or has the custody of said dog to keep said dog at all times securely fastened by chain or securely confined within the private property of said owner or person having the custody of said dog, or keep said dog in such manner as said health officer shall direct, to prevent it from biting or having the opportunity of biting any persons, including persons lawfully on the premises where said dog is so fastened or confined, until further order of the health officer.
(Code 1980, § 5-8.1; Ord. No. 85, § 32)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 6).
Full Breakdown
Ridgecrest's code does not restrict or ban dogs by breed. Instead, Article IV of Chapter 3 lets the health officer determine a dog is vicious after a quarantine order under § 3-80, and then order the owner to keep it securely fastened by chain or confined within private property at all times, per § 3-106. Under § 3-108, that determination is guided by whether the dog has bitten anyone before, the circumstances and apparent temper/ferocity involved, the dog's community reputation, and whether it is a general menace: factors that apply regardless of breed, and the article applies even to a dog that is already vaccinated and licensed. Violating the health officer's order is unlawful under § 3-107.
Violations & Fines
Violating a health officer's order regarding a declared vicious dog is unlawful under § 3-107. The underlying vicious-dog handling requirement (secure chaining or confinement) is set by § 3-106.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Ridgecrest ban specific dog breeds like pit bulls?
Who decides if a dog is vicious in Ridgecrest?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ridgecrest
How Ridgecrest compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·California rules heatmap·Compare Ridgecrest to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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Breed Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Kern County handle breed restrictions.