Upper Darby, PA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Breed list
- None in the code
- Vicious-dog trigger
- A bite without good cause, § 222-21
- Vicious-dog rule
- Ownership outright banned
- Attack-trained fencing
- 8-ft cyclone-type enclosure minimum
- Fine
- $300 flat, § 222-23
Summary
Upper Darby Code does not list restricted breeds. Instead §§ 222-20 and 222-21 regulate dogs by behavior: a dog that bites a person without good cause is declared vicious and its ownership is outright banned, and attack-trained dogs may never run loose in the Township.
§ 222-20. Attack-trained dogs. A. Attack-trained dogs are a potential hazard to the community. These dogs are not pets and under no circumstances will be permitted loose upon the Township. It will be the duty of a police officer to destroy any loose dog he has reason to believe is a loose attack-trained dog. B. Attack-trained dogs must be confined in a secured building. Where the dog is to be used to prowl an exterior area, that area must be securely fenced by a cyclone-type fencing or fence of similar confinement qualities at least eight feet high. § 222-21. Destruction of vicious dogs. Any dog which has bitten one or more persons, without good cause, shall be deemed to be vicious. No person may own a vicious dog within the Township of Upper Darby. Any such dog may be destroyed at the owner's expense.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 222, Article I has no breed list; its dangerous-dog scheme turns entirely on conduct. Section 222-21, "Destruction of vicious dogs," declares that "any dog which has bitten one or more persons, without good cause, shall be deemed to be vicious," then states flatly: "No person may own a vicious dog within the Township of Upper Darby. " That is a behavior-triggered ownership ban, not a breed ban of any kind. Section 222-20 separately targets "attack-trained dogs," defining them by training and function rather than breed: they "are a potential hazard to the community," are "not pets," and "under no circumstances will be permitted loose upon the Township," with a police officer duty-bound to destroy any loose dog reasonably believed to be a loose attack-trained dog.
Owners of attack-trained dogs must confine them in a secured building, and if the dog patrols an exterior area, that area must be enclosed by cyclone-type fencing, or fencing of similar confinement quality, at least eight feet high. Transporting an attack-trained dog outside a secured compound requires it to be securely leashed and muzzled, with a narrow carve-out if the Mayor deems it necessary for police functions protecting the community. The rabies-quarantine provisions of Section 222-12 layer on top of a biting incident regardless of breed, requiring the biting dog to be reported to the Health Department and quarantined.
Violations & Fines
Both provisions sit in Article I, enforced under Section 222-23 through a non-traffic criminal citation before the Magisterial District Judge with jurisdiction, carrying a flat $300 fine plus extraordinary Township prosecution expenses on conviction. Section 222-20 additionally authorizes a police officer to destroy a loose attack-trained dog on sight without a prior court proceeding, and Section 222-21 authorizes destruction of a declared vicious dog at the owner's expense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Upper Darby ban pit bulls or any specific dog breed?
What happens if my dog bites someone in Upper Darby?
Can I keep an attack-trained dog in Upper Darby?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Upper Darby
How Upper Darby compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·Compare Upper Darby to another location·View the Pennsylvania animal ordinances overview
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