Cincinnati, OH Animal Ordinances: Mandatory Spay/Neuter (2026)

' Subsection (B)(4), 'Educational Training; Sterilization,' requires that within 31 days of a dog's final designation as a nuisance, dangerous, or vicious dog, the owner, keeper, or harborer must, at their sole expense, take an educational training course from a local humane society (or a similar course approved by the Office of Administrative Hearings) teaching responsible dog ownership, and separately spay or neuter the dog. The designation itself follows a hearing process: a police officer's initial determination that a dog is a nuisance, dangerous, or vicious dog doesn't become permanent until a hearing at the Office of Administrative Hearings, where the city must prove the designation by clear and convincing evidence.

Once final, the sterilization and training duties apply alongside other confinement requirements in §701-50(B), including secure penned confinement, a 'Beware of Dog' sign, and, when off-premises, a tether no longer than six feet. Dogs designated dangerous or vicious face additional duties under §701-50(C), including $100,000 liability insurance and a county dangerous-dog registration certificate, obligations layered on top of, not instead of, the sterilization duty.