Rochester Hills, MI Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Division 2 of chapter 14, Article II governs dangerous dogs regardless of breed. Section 14-48(a) requires a law enforcement officer with reason to believe a dog is dangerous to file a sworn complaint with the district court or magistrate, contact county animal control to confine the dog, and prove the city's case by a preponderance of the evidence, with the same appeal and hearing procedure as municipal civil infractions. Section 14-48(b) squarely rejects breed-specific legislation: 'No dog shall be found to be a dangerous dog solely because it is a particular breed, nor is the ownership of a particular breed of dog prohibited,' and it also exempts dogs that were provoked, defending themselves or their owner's property, or acting as police dogs on duty.

Once a dog is found dangerous, § 14-49(a) requires the owner to obtain a dangerous dog registration certificate from the city clerk within 30 calendar days, for a $200.00 fee, renewed annually by March 1, with a copy sent to Oakland County Animal Control and the State Veterinarian. Section 14-49(b) conditions that certificate on proof of current rabies vaccination, spay or neuter, a proper enclosure or muzzle-and-fenced-yard arrangement, permanent identification by tattoo or microchip, visible warning signage, enrollment in or completion of a canine good-citizen obedience program, and liability insurance of at least $250,000.00 covering animal bites.

Section 14-50 requires the dog be confined indoors or in a securely enclosed, locked pen with a secure top and sides embedded at least one foot into the ground (an invisible fence alone does not qualify), and requires a leash no longer than four feet plus a muzzle when off the owner's property. Section 14-52 makes it a misdemeanor for a dangerous dog's owner to let it attack, injure or kill a person, cat or dog, or to fail to comply with any of the confinement, signage, muzzle, training or insurance requirements.