Breed Restrictions: Lakewood vs South Gate
How do breed restrictions rules compare between Lakewood, CA and South Gate, CA?
Lakewood and South Gate have similar restriction levels.
Lakewood, CA
Los Angeles County
California preempts all local breed-specific legislation (Food & Ag Code §31683). Lakewood cannot ban any dog breed. Dangerous dog designations are behavior-based.
View full Lakewood rules →South Gate, CA
Los Angeles County
South Gate does not impose breed-specific bans. California Food & Agricultural Code §31683 preempts cities and counties from declaring a dog dangerous or vicious based solely on breed, and from adopting breed-discriminatory dog control ordinances — but allows breed-specific spay/neuter and breeding requirements. South Gate regulates 'potentially dangerous' and 'vicious' dogs based on the individual dog's behavior under SGMC Title 4 / Chapter 7.22, consistent with Cal. Food & Agric. Code §31601 et seq.
View full South Gate rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Lakewood | South Gate |
|---|---|---|
| Breed Bans | Prohibited statewide | - |
| State Law | F&A Code §31683 | - |
| Dangerous Dogs | Behavior-based only | - |
| Exception | Breed spay/neuter (HSC §122331) | - |
| Breed-specific ban | - | Not permitted — preempted by Cal. F&A Code §31683 |
| Pit bulls allowed | - | Yes (no breed ban) |
| Dangerous-dog process | - | Individual behavior-based (Cal. F&A Code §31601 et seq.) |
| Spay/neuter mandate | - | Yes via LA County contract — dogs/cats over 4 months (LACC §10.20.350) |
| Enforcement agency | - | LA County Animal Care & Control |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Lakewood FAQ
Are pit bulls banned?
No. California law prohibits all breed-specific legislation. No city can ban any breed.
What about dangerous dogs?
Dangerous dog designations are based on the individual dog’s behavior, not its breed.
South Gate FAQ
Are pit bulls banned in South Gate?
No. California Food & Agricultural Code §31683 prohibits any California city or county from enacting breed-specific dangerous-dog ordinances. South Gate has no breed ban for pit bulls, Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, or any other breed. The city regulates individual dogs based on their actual behavior using the 'potentially dangerous' and 'vicious dog' procedures in Cal. Food & Agric. Code §31601-31683.
Does South Gate require me to spay or neuter my dog?
South Gate contracts with LA County Animal Care & Control for animal services, and LA County Code Title 10 Chapter 10.20 requires that all dogs and cats over four months of age be sterilized, with exemptions for licensed breeders, show/competition animals, working dogs, and dogs medically unable to be altered. Confirm current requirements directly with LA County Animal Care & Control (animalcare.lacounty.gov), as exemptions and fees change.
How is a dog declared 'dangerous' in South Gate?
Under Cal. Food & Agricultural Code §31621, an animal control officer or law-enforcement officer may petition for an administrative hearing if a dog has, off the owner's property, engaged in unprovoked menacing behavior or bitten a person. The hearing follows §31622: the owner gets notice, and a hearing officer determines whether the dog is 'potentially dangerous' or 'vicious' based on the individual dog's conduct, not its breed. If designated, the owner must comply with confinement, leash/muzzle, signage, and licensing conditions under §31641-31645.
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