Sandy, UT Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- No breed list
- Declarations are behavior-based, not breed-based
- Who decides
- A court weighs bite history and temperament testing
- Confinement
- 6-ft leash, muzzle, or secure enclosure 10 ft from lot line
- Registration
- License/tag within 14 days; microchip first
- Penalty
- Class B misdemeanor, § 12-3-8
Summary
Sandy City has no breed-specific ban. Instead, § 12-3-3 lets a court declare an individual dog "dangerous" based on its own bite or attack history, training, or behavior, regardless of breed. Once declared, that dog and its owner fall under Chapter 12-3's leash, muzzle, enclosure, signage, and licensing rules.
Except as provided in Section 12-1-16, a court may determine whether a dog is dangerous in any case coming before it. The following factors may be considered in determining whether a dog is dangerous, but the court may consider others in its discretion: Provocation in any attack by the dog; The nature and severity of the attack or injury to a person or domestic animal by the dog; Previous history of aggression of the dog or inadequate control by the custodian; Observable behavior of the dog; Site and circumstances of the incident; and The dog's performance on a generally accepted or otherwise reliable temperament test. A determination that the dog is in fact a dangerous dog as defined in Section 12-3-2 shall subject the dog and its owner to the provisions of this chapter.
Full Breakdown
Under § 12-3-2, a "dangerous dog" is defined by conduct, not breed: one that has aggressively bitten, attacked, or menaced a person, severely injured or killed a domestic animal off its owner's property, or been used in or trained for dog fighting. Section 12-3-3 gives a court the power to determine dangerousness case by case, weighing provocation, the severity of any attack, the dog's prior history and observable behavior, the site and circumstances of the incident, and its performance on a recognized temperament test, though the court can weigh other factors too.
Police service animals are excluded outright. Once a dog is declared dangerous, § 12-3-4 imposes real restrictions: it must be leashed to no more than six feet whenever outdoors of a secure enclosure, muzzled with a basket-style muzzle for vet visits, and otherwise confined to a code-compliant pen with secure sides and top, buried at least a foot into the ground, set back at least ten feet from any property line, and surrounded by a six-foot perimeter fence. Owners must post "Beware of Dog" signs on every gate and street-facing side of the property, microchip the dog before registering it, get a license and visible tag from the Division of Animal Services within 14 days, and may not keep any other dog besides a service animal. The declaration follows the dog if it moves into Sandy from another jurisdiction, under § 12-3-7.
Violations & Fines
Failing to meet the leash, muzzle, confinement, signage, or licensing requirements for a declared dangerous dog is a Class B misdemeanor under § 12-3-8. Section 12-3-4(h) makes any noncompliant dog subject to immediate seizure and impoundment and revokes both the dog's license and its keeping permit. An owner also forfeits the right to keep any other dog, aside from a service animal, once one of their dogs is declared dangerous.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Sandy ban pit bulls or other specific dog breeds?
What has to happen for a Sandy dog to be declared dangerous?
What must a Sandy owner do once their dog is declared dangerous?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sandy
How Sandy compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·Compare Sandy to another location·View the Utah animal ordinances overview
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Breed Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Salt Lake County handle breed restrictions.