Shelby County does not ban or restrict any dog breed. Its Code classifies a 'dangerous/vicious dog' by behavior, not breed (Sec. 4-2). Tennessee has no statewide breed preemption, but the county's rules turn on individual conduct, and owners face state duties under T.C.A. 44-8-413.
Shelby County's animal Code has no breed-specific ban or restriction. Instead, Sec. 4-2 defines a 'dangerous/vicious dog' by behavior: a dog that has aggressively bitten and drawn blood, severely injured or killed a person, been used for dog fighting, attacked another animal unprovoked off its owner's property, or bitten once and been found at large twice. Any breed can be classified this way, and none is presumed dangerous. Tennessee has no statute preempting local breed ordinances, so the county could adopt one but has not. Statewide, T.C.A. 44-8-413 requires every owner to keep a dog under reasonable control and from running at large. Owners of a declared dangerous/vicious dog face registration, confinement, insurance, and muzzling under Sec. 4-103.
Because classification is behavior-based, there are no breed-ownership penalties. Once a dog is declared dangerous/vicious, failing to register, confine, insure, or muzzle it under Sec. 4-103 is a violation fined up to $50 per day, plus possible seizure.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Backyard composting is allowed in Shelby County and has no dedicated permit, but compost and organic material must be managed so it does not become harmful v...
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Shelby County has no ordinance banning or specially permitting artificial turf. Synthetic turf is not counted as living landscaping under the Unified Develop...
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The Memphis and Shelby County Unified Development Code favors native landscaping, directing that trees and shrubs be predominately hardy Tennessee native spe...
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Shelby County has no ordinance prohibiting or specially licensing residential rainwater harvesting. Rain barrels and cisterns are generally allowed, and Tenn...
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Shelby County has no mandatory outdoor watering schedule. Water is supplied by Memphis Light, Gas and Water from the Memphis Sand Aquifer, and MLGW promotes ...
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The Code of Shelby County authorizes the county to compel owners of unincorporated property to cut rank weeds, grasses, and underbrush deemed a health or tra...
See how Shelby County's breed restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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