Santee, CA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Basis for restriction
- Behavior, not breed
- Dangerous dog definition
- 2+ incidents in 48 months, or 1 causing death/injury
- Declaration process
- Notice, then 10 days to request a hearing
- Required liability insurance
- $100,000 per occurrence minimum
- Duration of declaration
- The dog's lifetime
- Governing law
- SMC §§ 6.10.100, 6.10.140, 6.10.150
Summary
Santee has no breed-specific ban; instead Section 6.10.100 makes an owner liable when a guard, dangerous or potentially dangerous dog injures someone through the owner's failure to exercise ordinary care, and Section 6.10.140 lets the authorized agency formally declare a dog dangerous after notice and a hearing. A declared dangerous dog then faces lifetime restrictions such as insurance, secure enclosures and mandatory muzzling under Section 6.10.150.
It is unlawful for the owner, custodian or person having control of a guard dog, dangerous dog or potentially dangerous animal to fail to exercise ordinary care over the animal that results in the animal causing injury to a person engaged in lawful activity, if the owner, custodian or person having control of the animal knew or should have known the animal had vicious or dangerous propensities or that the animal was a guard dog, dangerous dog or potentially dangerous animal as defined in Section 6.02.020. ... Whenever the authorized agency has reasonable cause to believe that a dog is dangerous, it may commence proceedings to declare the dog a dangerous dog as follows: 1. The authorized agency will serve on the owner or custodian a notice of intent to declare the dog a dangerous dog.
Full Breakdown
Section 6.10.100(A), adopted by Ordinance 559 in 2019, does not target any breed; it imposes liability on the owner, custodian or person having control of a guard dog, dangerous dog or potentially dangerous animal who fails to exercise ordinary care and the animal then injures a person engaged in lawful activity, provided the owner knew or should have known the animal was vicious or fell into one of those defined categories under Section 6.02.020. Dangerous dog is defined there as a dog that has attacked, bitten or otherwise injured a person two or more times in 48 months, or once causing death or substantial injury.
Section 6.10.140 lays out the declaration process: the authorized agency serves a notice of intent, the owner has 10 days to request a hearing in writing, and failure to request or attend the hearing lets the agency issue the declaration by default. Once a dog is a declared dangerous dog, Section 6.10.150(B) authorizes the authorized agency to impose conditions for life, including liability insurance of at least $100,000 per occurrence, a specific enclosure design, muzzling requirements outside the enclosure, microchipping, a dangerous-dog registration on top of the ordinary license, mandatory sterilization, and a ban on the dog working as a guard, attack or sentry dog.
The agency can instead impound and abate the dog, including destruction, if it determines that step necessary to protect public safety, again after a 10-day notice and hearing opportunity under Section 6.10.150(C). An owner who sells or moves a declared dangerous dog must give the agency 15 days' written notice under Section 6.10.150(F), and the new owner must sign a written acknowledgment of the dog's status and restrictions.
Violations & Fines
Failing to comply with a dangerous-dog condition, such as missing insurance or an inadequate enclosure, is unlawful under Section 6.10.150(A) and enforceable as a misdemeanor or infraction under Sections 1.04.060 and 1.04.070, or by administrative citation under Section 1.08.020 starting at $100 per day. The authorized agency can also impound or abate a noncompliant dangerous dog under Section 6.10.150 after the notice-and-hearing process in Section 6.10.140.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Santee ban specific dog breeds like pit bulls?
How does a dog get declared dangerous in Santee?
What must an owner do once a dog is declared dangerous?
Can the City take a declared dangerous dog away from its owner?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santee
How Santee compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·California rules heatmap·Compare Santee to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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