South Bend repealed its breed-specific dangerous-dog rules in 2019 and no longer targets pit bulls or any breed. Dangerous, potentially dangerous, and vicious animals are judged by behavior under Sec. 5-109 and 5-110.
In 2019 South Bend rewrote Chapter 5 to remove breed-specific language. The old ordinance that singled out pit bull-type dogs, allowed their euthanasia after 48 hours unclaimed, and barred them from adoption was repealed. Under the current code a potentially dangerous, dangerous, or vicious animal is defined by the individual animal's conduct (Sec. 5-109, 5-110), not its breed. Indiana has no statewide breed ban and does not preempt local breed rules, but South Bend chose a behavior-based standard. A dog found dangerous must be confined as the code requires, and Indiana's strict-liability treatment for owners still applies.
Owning an animal that meets the dangerous or vicious definition without complying with the code's confinement rules is unlawful under Sec. 5-109 and 5-110, leading to impoundment, citations, and possible removal after a hearing.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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No South Bend or Indiana law limits holiday lights, inflatables, or yard displays on residential property. The city acts only through neutral rules against o...
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South Bend handles garage-sale signs through its zoning sign ordinance. A sign on your own property with the owner's consent is allowed and must come down af...
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South Bend regulates signs through its Chapter 21 zoning ordinance, but political signs on private property are protected speech the city cannot restrict by ...
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South Bend requires every non-owner-occupied rental to register annually by September 1 for a $5 fee, and to pass a Rental Safety Verification Program inspec...
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South Bend cannot require just cause to evict — Indiana bars cities from regulating the landlord-tenant relationship under IC 32-31-1-20. Evictions follow st...
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South Bend has no rent control, and Indiana law forbids it. IC 32-31-1-20 bars any city, town, or county from regulating rental rates unless the General Asse...
See how South Bend's breed restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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