Westminster, CA Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Chapter 6.10 defines a "potentially dangerous dog" as one that, unprovoked, requires defensive action to prevent injury on two separate occasions within 36 months, bites causing a less severe injury, or has twice injured another domestic animal off its owner's property within 36 months (Section 6.10.020). A "vicious dog" is one that unprovoked inflicts severe injury or death on a person, or a previously listed potentially dangerous dog that repeats the behavior. The Police Department or its animal control unit petitions a hearing officer, who must hold a hearing five to ten working days after the owner is served, and can find the designation applies by a preponderance of the evidence (Section 6.10.040).

Once designated, a potentially dangerous dog must stay indoors or in a securely fenced yard on the owner's property and, off-property, on a leash no longer than six feet under a responsible adult's control (Section 6.10.060(B)). Owners must maintain at least $200,000 in liability insurance covering the dog and post a two-inch "BEWARE OF DOG" sign referencing the code section (Sections 6.10.060(F), 6.10.080(D)). A vicious-dog finding can bar the owner from owning any dog in the city for up to three years, and the dog itself may be destroyed if release would threaten public safety after a hearing under Section 6.10.040. The chapter exempts licensed kennels, humane society shelters, animal control facilities and police dogs performing police work (Section 6.10.030).