Washington County, AR Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Code of Ordinances § 700.00
- Basis for declaration
- Behavior, not breed
- Leash limit (potentially dangerous)
- 4 feet, muzzled in public
- Liability insurance (dangerous)
- $50,000 minimum
- Appeal window
- 14 calendar days
- Noncompliance penalty
- Forfeiture of the animal
Summary
Washington County does not ban any breed. Instead, a law enforcement officer can declare a specific dog hazardous, potentially dangerous, or dangerous based on its own conduct, regardless of breed, under Code of Ordinances § 700.00. Each tier carries its own confinement, leash, insurance, and sterilization mandates.
j. Dangerous Animal: means an animal, regardless of breed, that: i. Inflicts, either directly or through an unbroken chain of causal events, serious injury on a person without provocation on public or private property; ii. Kills a domestic animal, livestock, or poultry without provocation while the animal is off the owner's property; or iii. Has been previously found to be potentially dangerous because of injury inflicted on a person, the owner having received notice of such and the animal again aggressively bites, attacks, or endangers the safety of persons. ... A law enforcement officer shall have the authority to declare and restrict a dangerous animal if the law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that the animal is dangerous.
Full Breakdown
" A hazardous animal has obstructed or interfered with a person's right-of-way; once declared, it must be confined to the owner's property and microchipped at the owner's expense. A potentially dangerous animal has bitten a person, livestock, poultry, or a domestic animal, or has chased or menaced someone off the owner's property; it must be kept indoors or in a USDA-standard locked enclosure with warning signage visible from the public road, and when outside that enclosure must be leashed (four feet maximum) and muzzled on public property.
A dangerous animal has inflicted serious injury without provocation, killed livestock or a domestic animal off the owner's property, or reoffended after a potentially-dangerous finding; its owner must additionally carry at least $50,000 in liability insurance naming the County as an additional insured and, when the animal must leave its enclosure, restrain it with a chain rated at 300 pounds tensile strength and no more than three feet long. A law enforcement officer declares any tier on probable cause built from a written citizen complaint, bite reports, officer or health-official observation, or other substantial evidence. Owners get 14 calendar days from written notice to appeal to the County Court, with further appeal to Circuit Court.
Violations & Fines
Violations are misdemeanors punishable under Code § 2-21, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense. Failing the hazardous-animal restrictions escalates the animal to potentially-dangerous status; failing the potentially-dangerous or dangerous restrictions forfeits ownership of the animal to the County. The County Judge, Sheriff, or any individual may also sue to compel compliance and seek injunctive relief, damages, and attorney fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Washington County ban pit bulls or any other breed?
How long do I have to appeal a dangerous-dog declaration?
What happens if I don't comply with a potentially-dangerous animal order?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Washington County
How Washington County compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·Compare Washington County to another location·View the Arkansas animal ordinances overview
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