Riverside County, CA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

California Food & Agricultural Code §31683 expressly forbids any county or city from enacting a 'specific dog breed' law declaring any breed dangerous, potentially dangerous, or vicious. Breed-specific spay/neuter and breeding restrictions are allowed, but Riverside County has not adopted breed-specific legislation. Ordinance 630 (the county's Animal Control Ordinance) instead establishes a behavior-based procedure: a dog can be declared 'potentially dangerous' after biting or threatening incidents and 'vicious' after severe or repeated attacks. Such a declaration triggers confinement, insurance, muzzling, and posting requirements, regardless of breed. Ord. 771 (mandatory spay/neuter) requires most dogs and cats over 4 months of age in unincorporated Riverside County to be sterilized, with exemptions for licensed breeders, working dogs, and show animals. Landlords, HOAs, and homeowner insurance carriers may impose their own private breed restrictions, which are not pre-empted by state law. Service and emotional-support animals have protections under the ADA and Fair Housing Act that override private breed restrictions when a disability-related need is documented.