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

California Food and Agricultural Code Section 31683 prohibits any California city or county from adopting breed-specific dog legislation that declares any breed potentially dangerous or vicious. San Bernardino County therefore has NO breed bans on pit bulls, Rottweilers, Dobermans, German Shepherds, Mastiffs, or any other breed. Instead, the county uses a conduct-based dangerous dog ordinance (San Bernardino County Code Title 3 Division 2 Animal Services) that classifies any individual dog as potentially dangerous or vicious based on actual behavior: biting, attacking, or causing serious injury to a person or domestic animal. A dog declared vicious faces mandatory spay/neuter, confinement requirements (secured enclosure or muzzle in public), liability insurance requirements, and registration on a dangerous dog list. State law does permit mandatory spay/neuter programs tied to specific breeds (this is allowed under 31683), and San Bernardino County has considered such programs at various times. Private restrictions still apply: most homeowner insurance policies exclude certain breeds, many HOAs restrict or prohibit specific breeds, and landlords may legally refuse to rent to owners of certain breeds. Service animals under the ADA cannot be restricted by breed.