Santa Maria, CA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

California Food and Agricultural Code Section 31683 provides that 'no program regulating any dog shall be specific as to breed' except for spay, neuter, and breeding programs authorized under Health and Safety Code Section 122331. This statewide preemption (added by SB 428 in 1989 and modified by SB 861 in 2005) means Santa Maria cannot enact a pit bull ban or similar breed restriction, and it has not done so. Instead, Santa Maria Municipal Code Title 5, Chapter 5-3, Article 2 sets up a behavior-based system: if an Animal Control Officer or law enforcement officer finds probable cause that a particular dog is potentially dangerous or vicious based on its conduct (for example, biting a person without provocation, killing or seriously injuring another animal, or being trained for fighting), the Animal Services Director sets an administrative hearing to determine whether the dog should be declared 'restricted' or 'vicious.' A dog already declared dangerous in another jurisdiction can be designated restricted or vicious in Santa Maria based on the same behavior. Owners of declared vicious dogs face confinement, muzzling, insurance, and signage requirements, or in serious cases, destruction of the dog. Statewide, California Civil Code Section 3342 imposes strict liability on the owner of any dog that bites a person in a public place or while the bitten person is lawfully on private property, regardless of the dog's prior viciousness or the owner's knowledge.