San Leandro, CA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

No local San Leandro ordinance bans pit bulls, Rottweilers, or any other breed. Under California Food & Agricultural Code §31683, 'nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent a city, county, or city and county from adopting or enforcing its own program for the control of potentially dangerous or vicious dogs that may incorporate all, part, or none of this chapter, or that may punish a violation of this chapter as a misdemeanor or may impose a more restrictive program to control potentially dangerous dogs.

' California Health & Safety Code §122331 carves out a narrow exception: cities and counties may adopt breed-specific programs solely for mandatory spay/neuter or breeding requirements, but may NOT impose breed-specific bans on ownership. San Leandro has not adopted any such mandatory breed-specific spay/neuter ordinance. Instead, dangerous dogs are handled on an individual, behavior-based basis under SLMC Chapter 4-11, Article 6 (Dangerous Dogs), which defines a dangerous dog by conduct (severe injury inflicted without provocation, or other criteria) - not by breed. Owners of dogs declared dangerous under Article 6 must obtain liability insurance in an amount set by the City Finance Director, naming the City of San Leandro as additional insured. Article 6 violations carry civil penalties of $250 (first), $500 (second), and $1,000 (third), plus possible misdemeanor charges.