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

The City of West Covina's municipal code contains no provisions targeting specific dog breeds for prohibition or heightened regulation. This is consistent with California state law: Food and Agricultural Code Section 31683 explicitly prohibits any city or county from enacting or enforcing an ordinance that declares a specific dog breed — or dogs of any specific breed — to be dangerous or vicious. The preemption prevents West Covina from instituting a pit bull ban, a Rottweiler restriction, or any similar breed-specific measure that singles out dogs based solely on breed characteristics rather than individual behavior. One narrow exception exists under California Health and Safety Code Section 122331, which allows localities to adopt breed-specific mandatory spay/neuter ordinances, but West Covina has not enacted any such provision and all breeds are treated identically under current city and county law.

Animal control services within West Covina are provided under contract by the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control. The behavioral framework follows California Food and Agricultural Code Sections 31601 through 31683. A dog may be declared potentially dangerous if, on two or more separate occasions within a 36-month period, it has bitten, attacked, or caused physical injury to a person or domestic animal without provocation while off the owner's property, or if it has approached a person in a menacing manner while unprovoked and not confined. A dog may be declared vicious if it has killed or caused severe injury to a person without provocation, or if it was previously declared potentially dangerous and the owner failed to comply with all conditions imposed. These determinations follow a formal investigation and, upon the owner's request, an administrative hearing. The evaluation applies uniformly to all dogs regardless of breed, size, or appearance.

West Covina is a suburban city of approximately 106,000 residents in the eastern San Gabriel Valley, characterized by single-family residential neighborhoods with moderate lot sizes. Dog ownership is common throughout the city, and the Los Angeles County leash law requires dogs to be on a leash no longer than six feet when in any public area. Regardless of breed, all dog owners in West Covina are responsible for preventing their animals from becoming a public nuisance through excessive barking, roaming at large, or aggressive behavior. All dogs four months of age and older must be licensed through Los Angeles County and must have a current rabies vaccination on file. Owners of dogs declared potentially dangerous or vicious must house the animal in an escape-proof locked enclosure when not under the direct physical control of a responsible adult, post conspicuous warning signs at all property entry points, have the animal spayed or neutered, and maintain a minimum of $100,000 in liability insurance covering bodily injury and property damage. Contact the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control at (562) 728-4610 for licensing, dangerous dog proceedings, or general animal control inquiries.

Homeowners' associations (HOAs) and landlords in West Covina may impose their own breed restrictions through CC&Rs or lease agreements. These private restrictions are not government ordinances and are not preempted by state law. Prospective tenants and homebuyers should review HOA governing documents or lease terms carefully to understand any private breed limitations that may apply to their specific property.