St. Martin Parish, LA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Article III of Chapter 6 (Secs. 6-101 to 6-121) is the parish's dangerous dog regime, and it contains no list of restricted breeds. Sec. 6-101 defines a dangerous dog as one previously declared dangerous by a court under R.S. 14:102.13, or declared dangerous by the animal control director or a dangerous animal committee because, when unprovoked, it engages in behavior requiring a defensive action by any person when both are off the owner's property, bites a person causing severe injury, has killed, seriously bitten or injured an animal off the owner's property, or shows other behavior the administrative hearing panel finds warrants the label. Sec. 6-102 defines a vicious dog as one that, unprovoked, goes after a person aggressively and inflicts serious injury, attacks in a manner suggestive of a hunt and kill, or kills a person, or one previously found dangerous that causes a person to take defensive action. Sec. 6-103 bars a declaration where the person hurt was committing a crime on the owner's property, was teasing, tormenting, abusing or assaulting the dog, or where the dog was defending a person or working as a hunting or herding dog.

The process starts with seizure under Sec. 6-104. The owner receives a notice of seizure and summons and has seven days from service to admit the facts or request a hearing (Secs. 6-107, 6-109). The informal hearing before the dangerous animal committee is scheduled no later than ten days after the request, and the parish carries the burden by a preponderance of the evidence (Sec. 6-113). The committee's order is final, and a petition for judicial review goes to the district court within five days of the decision (Sec. 6-120).

Once a dog is declared dangerous, Sec. 6-116 governs. On the owner's property it must be securely confined indoors or in a locked pen with secure sides and top, bound to a concrete floor, with signs reading Beware of Dog or Dangerous Dog in letters at least three inches high on all sides. Off the property it must be muzzled and restrained by a substantial leash not exceeding four feet. The owner pays to have it spayed or neutered, microchipped, vaccinated and licensed as dangerous, and must notify animal control within two days of its death and immediately of an escape or bite. Sec. 6-24(n) adds a $50.00 annual dangerous dog license fee. Dogs of law enforcement and search and rescue teams are exempt under Sec. 6-121.