Breed Restrictions: Chino vs Fontana
How do breed restrictions rules compare between Chino, CA and Fontana, CA?
Fontana has fewer restrictions than Chino.
Chino, CA
San Bernardino County
California Food & Agricultural Code §31683 preempts breed-specific dangerous-dog ordinances — no city, including Chino, may declare a breed dangerous or vicious by breed alone. The only carve-out is Health & Safety Code §122331, which lets local governments require mandatory spay/neuter and breeding regulation by breed. Through its San Bernardino County animal-control contract, that exception applies in Chino: San Bernardino County Code §32.1501 requires pit bulls and pit-bull-mix dogs over 4 months to be spayed or neutered.
View full Chino rules →Fontana, CA
San Bernardino County
Fontana does not restrict dogs by breed. California Food and Agricultural Code Section 31683 preempts cities from banning specific breeds, so Fontana uses behavior-based dangerous and vicious dog rules from Chapter 4 instead.
View full Fontana rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Chino | Fontana |
|---|---|---|
| State preemption | Cal. Food & Ag. Code §31683 — no breed-specific dog regulation | - |
| Only allowed breed rule | Cal. Health & Safety Code §122331 — breed-specific spay/neuter & breeding only | - |
| Active local rule | San Bernardino County Code §32.1501 — pit bulls/mixes over 4 months must be altered | - |
| Chino-specific ban | None — no breed-specific ordinance in Chino Municipal Code Title 6 | - |
| Dangerous-dog path | Individual-dog hearings under Cal. Food & Ag. Code §31601 et seq. | - |
| Breed Ban | - | Prohibited by CA F and A Code 31683 |
| Fontana Code | - | Chapter 4 Animals behavior-based |
| Dangerous Dog | - | Declared after hearing on incidents |
| Typical Conditions | - | Fence, muzzle, insurance, microchip |
| Animal Services | - | (909) 350-7651 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Chino FAQ
Can Chino ban pit bulls?
No. California Food & Agricultural Code §31683 preempts breed-specific bans, and Health & Safety Code §122331 expressly forbids declaring a breed or mixed breed potentially dangerous or vicious. The only allowed breed-specific local rule is mandatory spay/neuter.
Do I have to spay or neuter my pit bull in Chino?
Yes. Chino's animal-services contract with San Bernardino County brings County Code §32.1501 into play, which requires all pit bulls and pit-bull-mix dogs over four months old to be spayed or neutered, subject to narrow medical and registered-breeder exemptions.
How are dangerous dogs handled in Chino?
On an individual basis under California Food & Agricultural Code §31601 et seq. A dog can be declared 'potentially dangerous' or 'vicious' based on its own behavior — never solely on its breed.
Fontana FAQ
Can my landlord refuse a pit bull in Fontana?
Private landlords can set breed restrictions in leases, but cities and HOAs cannot pass breed bans under state law.
What triggers a dangerous dog declaration?
A bite, attack, or a pattern of unprovoked aggressive behavior witnessed and documented. The owner gets a hearing before conditions are imposed.
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