Adams County, CO Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Animal Control Code § 5-6
- Injury/damage threshold
- Restitution over $1,000 required
- Breed-specific ban
- None; behavior-based standard only
- Max penalty
- $300 fine, 10 days jail, or both
- Enforcing agency
- Adams County Animal Management / Riverdale Animal Shelter
- State definition referenced
- C.R.S. § 18-9-204.5
- Court
- Adams County Court, 17th Judicial District
Summary
Unincorporated Adams County has no breed-specific ban. Its Animal Control Code regulates dogs by documented behavior instead: Section 5-6 makes it unlawful to own, harbor, keep, or control a dangerous dog that causes bodily injury, serious bodily injury, death of an animal, or property damage carrying restitution of more than $1,000, tracking the state definition at C.R.S. § 18-9-204.5.
5-6. Dangerous dog (unlawful ownership), Damages/destroys property of another, Bodily injury to person, Serious bodily injury to person, Injury/death to an animal is prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person to unlawfully, own, possess, harbor, keep, have a financial/property interest in, have custody/control over a dangerous dog and said dog cause bodily injury to a person, serious bodily injury to a person, injury/death of a domestic animal, or damage/destruction of property of another. This violation applies only to damages and injuries resulting in restitution of more than one thousand dollars ($1,000).
Full Breakdown
5. Section 5-6 then makes it unlawful for any person to own, possess, harbor, keep, hold a financial or property interest in, or exercise custody or control over a dangerous dog that causes bodily injury, serious bodily injury, or death to a person or domestic animal, or destroys property of another, but the violation applies only where the damages or injuries carry restitution of more than one thousand dollars. § 18-3-201(2) for purposes of assaults against them. 5, Section 7-4 lets the county take the dog into custody and hold it at the owner's expense at a public shelter, licensed boarding facility, or veterinary clinic pending the outcome of the case, and a court may make that placement a condition of bond.
Section 8-1 confirms that nothing in the state dangerous-dog statute strips Adams County of its separate authority to license and regulate animals. There is no muzzle, insurance, sign-posting, or breed-based registration requirement anywhere in the Code; ownership only becomes unlawful once the $1,000 injury or damage threshold in Section 5-6 is met.
Violations & Fines
Violating Section 5-6 is a petty offense under Section 6-1, punishable by a fine of up to $300, up to 10 days in the county jail, or both, for each separate offense. A summons and complaint under Section 6-6 must identify the sections violated and the fine owed, with a duplicate sent to the County Court Clerk of the 17th Judicial District; contesting it under Section 6-8 requires a court appearance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Adams County ban pit bulls or other breeds?
What makes a dog 'dangerous' under county law?
What happens to a dog after a bite that leads to a summons?
What is the penalty for unlawfully owning a dangerous dog?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Adams County
How Adams County compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·Compare Adams County to another location·View the Colorado animal ordinances overview
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