San Mateo County, CA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Breed-specific ban
- None in unincorporated San Mateo County
- Regulated by
- Behavior: dangerous/vicious animal definitions (Code Section 6.04.010)
- Dangerous-animal cap
- No more than 2 per household without approval (Section 6.04.100)
- State law
- CA Food & Ag Code bars breed-specific ownership/licensing bans
- Vicious animals
- May be ordered destroyed under Chapter 6.04
Summary
Unincorporated San Mateo County has no breed-specific ban. The County Ordinance Code regulates individual dogs as dangerous or vicious based on behavior, not breed. California state law (Food & Agricultural Code) also bars breed-discriminatory licensing or ownership bans, though breed-specific spay/neuter programs are permitted.
31683. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent a city or county from adopting or enforcing its own program for the control of potentially dangerous or vicious dogs that may incorporate all, part, or none of this chapter, or that may punish a violation of this chapter as a misdemeanor or may impose a more restrictive program to control potentially dangerous or vicious dogs. Except as provided in Section 122331 of the Health and Safety Code, no program regulating any dog shall be specific as to breed. (Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 668, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2006.) <input type="hidden" name="javax.faces.ViewState" id="j_id1:javax.faces.ViewState:7" value="gcFuZ7t5J/1Lok/UYJr
Full Breakdown
There is no breed-specific ban in unincorporated San Mateo County. 010) and provides for permits, hearings, and, for vicious animals, destruction. PHS/SPCA confirms these are legally defined, behavior-based designations and that no breed-specific restrictions apply in San Mateo County. 100, a person may keep no more than two dangerous animals at any one household without prior written approval, and a dangerous-animal permit can require a secure enclosure, a warning sign at all entrances, microchipping, spay/neuter within 45 days, a dangerous-animal tag, financial responsibility (a bond or insurance of $300,000 per animal), and, when off the property, a leash not exceeding four feet.
California state law reinforces the no-breed-ban approach: the Food & Agricultural Code prohibits cities and counties from adopting breed-specific bans on owning or licensing dogs, while allowing breed-specific mandatory spay/neuter or breeding programs. Owners therefore cannot be barred from keeping any breed in the unincorporated County, but an individual dog of any breed can be declared dangerous or vicious after a biting or attacking incident.
Violations & Fines
There are no breed-based violations. An individual dog can be designated dangerous or vicious under Chapter 6.04 after an incident; keeping more than two dangerous animals at one household without approval, or failing to meet dangerous-animal permit conditions under Section 6.04.100, is a violation enforced by PHS/SPCA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are pit bulls banned in unincorporated San Mateo County?
What happens if a dog is declared dangerous?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Mateo County
How San Mateo County compares: Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions·California rules heatmap·Compare San Mateo County to another location·View the California animal ordinances overview
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