Breed Restrictions: Monterey vs Salinas
How do breed restrictions rules compare between Monterey, CA and Salinas, CA?
Monterey and Salinas have similar restriction levels.
Monterey, CA
Monterey County
No Monterey County ordinance bans or restricts dogs by breed (e.g., pit bulls). California Food & Agricultural Code § 31683 preempts breed-specific bans, allowing only breed-specific mandatory spay/neuter; Monterey County has not enacted one. Aggressive dogs are regulated by behavior under California's 'potentially dangerous' and 'vicious' dog statutes (Cal. Food & Agric. Code §§ 31601-31683).
View full Monterey rules →Salinas, CA
Monterey County
California preempts all local breed-specific legislation (Food & Ag Code §31683). Salinas cannot ban any dog breed. Dangerous dog designations are behavior-based.
View full Salinas rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Monterey | Salinas |
|---|---|---|
| Breed Bans | None at county level | Prohibited statewide |
| State Preemption | Cal. Food & Agric. Code § 31683 (no breed-specific dangerous declarations) | - |
| State Behavior Standard | Cal. Food & Agric. Code §§ 31601-31683 | - |
| Local Enforcement | Monterey County Animal Services | - |
| State Law | - | F&A Code §31683 |
| Dangerous Dogs | - | Behavior-based only |
| Exception | - | Breed spay/neuter (HSC §122331) |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Monterey FAQ
Can I own a pit bull in unincorporated Monterey County?
Yes. Neither Monterey County Code Title 8 nor California state law bans pit bulls or any other breed. State law (Food & Agric. Code § 31683) bars counties from declaring breeds vicious.
Does Monterey County have a breed-specific spay/neuter rule?
No. The county has discussed a general spay/neuter ordinance but has not adopted a breed-specific spay/neuter requirement. Some California cities (e.g., San Francisco) have one for pit bulls, but Monterey County has not.
What happens if my dog bites someone?
Monterey County Animal Services will investigate under California Food & Agricultural Code §§ 31601-31683. Depending on injury severity, the dog can be declared 'potentially dangerous' (requiring confinement, registration, and leash/control conditions) or 'vicious' (which can result in an order of destruction). Civil liability is governed by California Civil Code § 3342 (strict liability for dog bites).
Salinas 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.
Compare other topics
See how Monterey and Salinas compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool