Torrance Breed Restrictions Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

Torrance does not impose breed-specific restrictions on any dog breed, including pit bulls, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, or other commonly targeted breeds. This is consistent with California Food and Agriculture Code Section 31683, which prohibits cities or counties from adopting breed-specific ordinances except for spay/neuter and breeding requirements.

Instead, California law focuses on the behavior of individual dogs. Under Food and Agriculture Code Sections 31601-31683, a dog may be declared "potentially dangerous" if it has, on two separate occasions within 36 months, engaged in unprovoked behavior that required a person to take defensive action, or if it has bitten a person without provocation. A dog is declared "vicious" if it inflicts severe injury on a person without provocation, or if it was previously declared potentially dangerous and its owner failed to meet required conditions.

Owners of dogs declared vicious must maintain liability insurance of at least $100,000, keep the dog in a secure enclosure, and comply with other conditions set by the animal control authority. Torrance Animal Control enforces these provisions locally. All dogs, regardless of breed, must be licensed, vaccinated, and leashed in public.