Breed Restrictions: Somerville vs Wakefield
How do breed restrictions rules compare between Somerville, MA and Wakefield, MA?
Somerville and Wakefield have similar restriction levels.
Somerville, MA
Middlesex County
Somerville does not impose breed-specific legislation because Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 140 Section 157A prohibits cities from regulating dogs based on breed.
View full Somerville rules →Wakefield, 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 Wakefield rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Somerville | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|
| Breed ban | None (state preempted) | - |
| Governing law | MGL c.140 s.157A | MGL c.140 s.157A |
| Dangerous-dog law | MGL c.140 s.157 | - |
| License required at | 6 months, annually | - |
| Private rules | Landlords may restrict | - |
| Breed bans | - | ILLEGAL statewide since 2012 |
| Approach | - | Behavior-based only |
| Dangerous dog | - | After hearing, specific conduct |
| Landlords | - | Also cannot ban by breed |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Somerville FAQ
Are pit bulls banned in Somerville?
No. Massachusetts state law blocks any municipal breed ban; individual dogs are regulated based on behavior, not breed.
Can my landlord refuse certain breeds?
Yes. Private landlords and condo associations may impose breed restrictions in leases; this is separate from city ordinance.
Wakefield 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.
Compare other topics
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