St. Peters, MO Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Basis for designation
- Behavior/bite history, not breed
- Quarantine after bite
- 10 days at approved facility
- Annual registration fee
- $325 first year, $100 after
- Liability insurance
- $500,000 minimum coverage
- Spay/neuter deadline
- 30 days of dangerous declaration
- Appeal
- Hearing before City Administrator
Summary
St. Peters has no breed-specific dog ban. Municipal Code Section 205.010 defines a "dangerous animal" and "dangerous dog" entirely by conduct, such as biting without provocation or being kept for dog fighting, and Section 205.230 orders any such animal held for a ten-day rabies quarantine after it bites or scratches someone. Section 205.240 exempts animals that reacted to trespass, teasing or a crime in progress.
DANGEROUS ANIMAL Any animal with the following characteristics: 1. Any animal which has killed or critically injured a domestic animal, livestock or poultry, without provocation, while off the owner's property. 2. Any dog owned or harbored primarily or in part for the purpose of dog fighting or any dog trained for dog fighting. 3. Any animal which has bitten a human being, without provocation and inflicted serious injury, on public or private property. ... Any dangerous animal which bites or scratches a human being or any animal whose behavior immediately prior to or during an incident resulting in a human being bitten or scratched, which is determined to be dangerous, shall be impounded for a ten-day rabies quarantine at the City's designated holding facility or a veterinarian's clinic within the City limits of St. Peters. ... No animal may be declared dangerous if the threat, injury or damage was sustained by a person who, at the time, was committing a willful trespass or other act upon the premises occupied by the owner or keeper of the animal, or was teasing, tormenting, abusing or assaulting the animal.
Full Breakdown
Section 205.010 lists what makes an animal "dangerous": it killed or critically injured a domestic animal, livestock or poultry without provocation while off the owner's property; it is a dog owned or trained for dog fighting; it bit a human without provocation and caused serious injury; it attacked a person or animal more than once with at least one unprovoked attack; or the Health Manager declared it dangerous from prior incident reports. A separate "dangerous dog" definition covers a dog that inflicted a severe or fatal human injury documented by a physician's statement, or one already declared dangerous by the County Department Director or another City in St.
Charles County. None of these tests turns on breed. Once a dangerous incident occurs, Section 205.230 impounds the animal for a ten-day rabies quarantine at a City-designated facility or a veterinarian's clinic within St. Peters. Section 205.240 bars a dangerous declaration if the victim was trespassing, teasing, tormenting or assaulting the animal, or committing a crime, and lets an Animal Control Officer find an animal not dangerous despite a warning to the owner; law enforcement dogs are exempt outright. Section 205.250 then gives the Health Manager, subject to a hearing before the City Administrator, the choice to euthanize the animal after an unprovoked attack causing serious injury, or return it under an orange collar, microchip, secure indoor confinement, a four-foot muzzle-leash outdoors, $500,000 in liability insurance, spay or neuter within thirty days, and annual registration.
Violations & Fines
Keeping a dangerous animal without meeting the Chapter's conditions, such as the orange collar, muzzle, secure enclosure, liability insurance or registration, is itself an ordinance violation. The Health Manager can seize and impound the animal for at least ten days or until the owner shows compliance, and if the owner refuses to surrender it on demand, the Manager may seek a court warrant for its seizure under Missouri's Rules of Criminal Procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does St. Peters ban pit bulls or other specific dog breeds?
What happens once St. Peters declares my dog dangerous?
Is there a defense if my dog was provoked before being called dangerous?
How much does it cost to keep a dog St. Peters has declared dangerous?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Peters
How St. Peters compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·Compare St. Peters to another location·View the Missouri animal ordinances overview
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