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Lexington County, SC Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Basis
Behavior-based, not breed
Decision maker
Animal services director
Outdoors unattended
Locked escape-proof kennel required
Hybrids
Owning a wolf-dog hybrid is illegal
Penalty
Misdemeanor, magistrate's court

Summary

Lexington County has no breed ban but requires any dog the animal services director declares dangerous to be registered, muzzled in public, and kept in a locked escape-proof kennel when unattended.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Lexington County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

The animal services director shall have the authority to determine if a dog is a dangerous dog... If the dog is outdoors and unattended, the dog must be locked in an escape-proof kennel... It shall be illegal for anyone to own or be the custodian of a hybrid.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 20).

Full Breakdown

There's no list of banned breeds in Lexington County. Instead, the animal services director decides case by case whether a dog is dangerous based on a history of unprovoked aggression toward people or other pets. Once declared, the owner must register the dog and report any change of ownership, address, health, or death. Outdoors and attended, the dog must be muzzled and leashed; outdoors and unattended, it must be locked in a kennel with two-inch-max fencing gaps, a padlocked gate, secure sides and top, and a dangerous-dog warning sign on all four sides. Owning or keeping a wolf-dog hybrid is outright illegal countywide.

Violations & Fines

Misdemeanor under magistrate's court jurisdiction (Sec. 10-44); an unconfined or unmuzzled dangerous dog can also be impounded by an animal control officer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Lexington County ban specific dog breeds?
No. The county uses a behavior-based dangerous dog determination made by the animal services director, not a breed list.
What must I do if my dog is declared dangerous?
Register it with animal services, muzzle and leash it outdoors when attended, and keep it in a locked, signed, escape-proof kennel when unattended.
Can I own a wolf-dog hybrid in Lexington County?
No. Sec. 10-37(e) makes it illegal for anyone to own or be the custodian of a hybrid.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Lexington County

All Lexington County rules

How Lexington County compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·Compare Lexington County to another location·View the South Carolina animal ordinances overview

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