Breed Restrictions: Burlington vs Newton
How do breed restrictions rules compare between Burlington, MA and Newton, MA?
Burlington and Newton have similar restriction levels.
Burlington, MA
Middlesex County
Massachusetts law prohibits breed-specific legislation. Under MGL c.140 s.157A (2012), no Middlesex County city or town can ban or restrict dogs based on breed. Regulation is behavior-based only.
View full Burlington rules →Newton, MA
Middlesex County
Newton does not impose breed-specific bans because Massachusetts state law MGL c.140 s.157A prohibits municipalities from regulating dogs based on breed alone.
View full Newton rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Burlington | Newton |
|---|---|---|
| Breed bans | ILLEGAL statewide since 2012 | Prohibited by MGL c.140 s.157A |
| Governing law | MGL c.140 s.157A | - |
| Approach | Behavior-based only | - |
| Dangerous dog | After hearing, specific conduct | - |
| Landlords | Also cannot ban by breed | - |
| Newton policy | - | Behavior-based enforcement only |
| Hearings | - | Dangerous dog under s.157 |
| Penalties | - | Muzzle, insurance, confinement |
| Private exceptions | - | Landlords, HOAs, insurers allowed |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Burlington FAQ
Can Cambridge or Newton ban pit bulls?
No. State law explicitly prohibits any Massachusetts municipality from breed-specific legislation since 2012.
What if my dog bites someone?
A hearing officer holds a dangerous dog hearing and can order muzzling, confinement, insurance, or other remedies based on conduct.
Newton FAQ
Can Newton ban pit bulls?
No, Massachusetts state law prohibits any breed-specific municipal ordinance, so Newton cannot enact a ban.
What if my dog bites someone?
A dangerous dog hearing under MGL c.140 s.157 determines outcomes based on the dogs behavior, not breed.
Compare other topics
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