Somerville, MA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Breed ban
- None (state preempted)
- Governing law
- MGL c.140 s.157A
- Dangerous-dog law
- MGL c.140 s.157
- License required at
- 6 months, annually
- Private rules
- Landlords may restrict
Summary
Somerville does not impose breed-specific legislation because Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 140 Section 157A prohibits cities from regulating dogs based on breed.
Section 157A. (a) An owner or keeper of a dog who fails to comply with an order of a hearing authority or district court shall be punished, for a first offense, by a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment for not more than 60 days in a jail or house of correction, or both, and for a second or subsequent offense by a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not more than 90 days in a jail or house of correction.
(b) No person over the age of 17 who has actual knowledge that a dog has been deemed dangerous under section 157 shall permit a child under the age of 17 to own, possess or have the care or custody of such dog.
(c) No person shall transfer ownership or possession of a dog which such person knows, or reasonably should have known, has been deemed dangerous under section 157 or offer such dangerous dog for sale or breed without informing the recipient of the dog of the finding of dangerousness.
Full Breakdown
Somerville has no breed-specific ban. Massachusetts is a state-preemption jurisdiction: MGL Chapter 140 Section 157A, enacted in 2012, expressly prohibits any city or town from adopting or enforcing regulations that treat dogs differently based on breed, including outright bans, muzzle requirements, or mandatory sterilization tied to breed. Somerville instead regulates individual dogs based on conduct under MGL Chapter 140 Section 157, which allows the city's hearing authority to designate a specific dog as nuisance or dangerous and impose conditions such as confinement, muzzling in public, secure enclosures, liability insurance, or removal from the city. All dogs over six months must be licensed annually with the City Clerk, be current on rabies vaccination, and comply with leash laws. Landlords and condominium associations may set private pet rules that restrict certain breeds on their own property, separate from municipal law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are pit bulls banned in Somerville?
Can my landlord refuse certain breeds?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Somerville
How Somerville compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·Compare Somerville to another location·View the Massachusetts animal ordinances overview
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Breed Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle breed restrictions.