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

Research of the Stanislaus County Animal Code (Title 7) found no breed-specific ban for the unincorporated area. This is consistent with California Food and Agricultural Code Section 31683, which prohibits cities and counties from adopting dog regulations that are specific to a breed, with one narrow exception: under Health and Safety Code Section 122331, a local mandatory spay/neuter or breeding program may be breed-specific, but no breed (or mixed breed) may be declared potentially dangerous or vicious on the basis of breed alone. Rather than targeting breeds, Stanislaus County regulates the conduct of individual animals. County Code Chapter 7.28 (Dangerous Animals) directs the animal services executive director to investigate animals reported as potentially dangerous or vicious; if an animal shows a propensity to attack, bite, scratch, or harass people or other animals, the owner is notified and Animal Court may order the animal seized, confined to a substantial enclosure, securely leashed, or otherwise controlled. Owners who fail to comply may have the animal impounded or destroyed. Because liability follows the individual dog's behavior, owners of any breed should ensure their dog is leashed and contained. Owners remain strictly liable for bites under California Civil Code 3342.