San Benito County, CA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

No breed-specific ban applies in unincorporated San Benito County, and none could lawfully exist as a prohibition. California Food & Agricultural Code Section 31683 bars local governments from enacting dog regulations that are specific to breed, with a narrow exception allowing breed-specific mandatory spay/neuter and breeding-permit programs. As a result, California cities and counties regulate dogs based on individual dangerous or vicious behavior rather than breed. San Benito County's Title 13 animal ordinance addresses dangerous dogs and dogs running at large, and any owner whose dog bites or threatens may face declaration and control requirements under the County code and California Food & Agricultural Code Sections 31601-31683 (the potentially dangerous and vicious dog statutes). We found no published San Benito County ordinance imposing a breed-specific spay/neuter mandate; counties such as San Bernardino and San Francisco have adopted pit-bull sterilization rules, but San Benito County has not been confirmed to do so. Owners of any breed remain subject to leash, licensing, rabies-vaccination, and dangerous-dog rules that apply equally regardless of breed.