Sioux City had a longstanding pit bull ban under former Municipal Code Chapter 7.10 (Pit Bulls Prohibited) enacted in 2008. The Sioux City Council repealed that ban in late 2019, and pit bulls have been lawful to own in Sioux City since December 2019. Iowa has no statewide preemption of breed-specific legislation — cities can still adopt breed restrictions — but Sioux City currently regulates dogs by behavior through Title 7 dangerous-dog provisions and not by breed. Iowa Code Section 351.28 imposes statewide owner liability for dog-inflicted injuries.
Sioux City's former Municipal Code Chapter 7.10 (Pit Bulls Prohibited), adopted in 2008, made it unlawful to own, transport, or sell any pit bull within the City, defined as dogs predominately of Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, or American Staffordshire Terrier breeds (https://www.animallaw.info/local/ia-sioux-city-breed-chapter-710-pit-bulls-prohibited). Grandfathered dogs registered before April 25, 2009 could remain subject to confinement and insurance requirements. The Sioux City Council voted in November 2019 to repeal the ban, citing enforcement difficulty and legal vulnerability; pit bulls became lawful to own again in early December 2019 (https://www.kcau9.com/news/local-news/sioux-city-council-ends-the-pit-bull-ban/). Since the repeal, Sioux City has regulated dogs by individual behavior through Title 7's dangerous-dog and vicious-animal provisions, requiring secure confinement, insurance, posted warnings, and muzzling for dogs adjudicated dangerous. Iowa has no statewide BSL preemption — Iowa Code Chapter 351 expressly allows cities to regulate breeds — so a future Sioux City Council could re-enact breed restrictions, but as of 2025 no such ordinance is in effect. Iowa Code Section 351.28 imposes owner liability for damages caused by dog attacks regardless of breed. Owners of any large or strong breed should still maintain leash compliance, current rabies vaccination, and homeowner liability insurance.
There is no longer any Sioux City citation issued solely based on a dog's breed. Behavior-based dangerous-dog citations under Title 7 are municipal infractions with fines plus secure-confinement, insurance, and muzzling orders; failure to comply can result in impoundment by Sioux City Animal Control and, in severe cases, court-ordered euthanasia. Iowa Code Section 351.28 imposes separate civil liability for damages and Iowa Code Chapter 717B provides criminal penalties for owners who knowingly keep a vicious dog that injures a person.
Sioux City, IA
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Sioux City, IA
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Sioux City, IA
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