Cities with No Dog Breed Restrictions (2026)
Where pit bulls, rottweilers, and other breeds are welcome
Where does your city rank?
Breed-specific legislation (BSL) still exists in many cities, banning or heavily restricting ownership of pit bulls, rottweilers, and other breeds. But the trend is moving away from blanket breed bans. This ranking highlights cities that evaluate dogs on behavior rather than breed, making them friendlier for owners of commonly restricted breeds.
Top 25: No Breed Bans
Based on each city's animal control ordinance. "Permissive" cities have no breed-specific bans and focus on individual dog behavior and dangerous dog designations. "Strict" cities maintain breed bans or require breed-specific insurance, muzzling, or registration.
- 1
Dallas does not have breed-specific legislation. Texas Health and Safety Code Section 822.047 prohibits cities from creating breed-specific restrictions. Dallas regulates dogs based on individual behavior under its dangerous dog provisions.
- 2Queens County, NYFew Restrictions
No breed ban in Queens. NYCHA public housing prohibits certain breeds. NY Ag & Markets Law preempts local breed-specific legislation. Dangerous dog designations by court.
- 3
No county breed-specific legislation. Texas has no statewide breed ban. TX HSC Chapter 822 regulates dangerous dogs based on behavior, not breed. Counties cannot enact breed restrictions under Texas law.
- 4
Ventura does not impose breed-specific legislation (BSL) banning particular dog breeds. California state law (Food & Agriculture Code 31683) prohibits cities from enacting breed-specific bans. However, dogs of any breed declared dangerous or vicious face enhanced restrictions including muzzle and containment requirements.
- 5
California Food and Agricultural Code 31683 preempts breed-specific bans. San Bernardino County uses conduct-based dangerous-dog rules, not breed bans. HOAs, insurers, and landlords may still restrict breeds privately.
- 6DeSoto, TXFew Restrictions
Texas Health and Safety Code Section 822.047 prohibits Texas municipalities from enacting breed-specific legislation. DeSoto therefore does not ban or restrict any specific dog breeds. Instead, DeSoto
- 7
Cornelius does not have breed-specific legislation. Dangerous dog determinations follow N.C.G.S. 67-4.1 behavior-based criteria. Any dog declared dangerous must be muzzled in public, securely confined, and carry 100,000 dollars liability insurance.
- 8
Tarrant County has no breed-specific ordinance. TX H&S Code 822 and Lillians Law govern dangerous dogs by behavior, not breed. Texas law preempts counties and cities from banning specific breeds.
- 9
Fresno County does not impose breed-specific restrictions. California Food & Ag Code §31683 preempts breed-based bans but permits breed-specific spay/neuter rules. County regulates dangerous dogs by behavior under §6.04.200, not breed.
- 10
NY Agriculture and Markets Law 107(5) preempts breed-specific legislation statewide, so no Dutchess County town - including Poughkeepsie, Beacon, Hyde Park, and Rhinebeck - may ban a breed. Dangerous-dog rules under Ag & Markets 123 apply based on individual behavior, not breed. Homeowners insurance carriers may still restrict breeds independently of local law.
- 11Austin, TXFew Restrictions
Austin does not have breed-specific legislation and is legally prevented from enacting one by Texas Health & Safety Code §822.047. The city instead uses a dangerous-dog designation process under §822.0421 applied based on behavior, not breed.
- 12
Antioch does not have breed-specific restrictions. California state law (AB 1634 / Food and Agricultural Code) prohibits cities from enacting breed-specific legislation. Dangerous dog determinations are behavior-based.
- 13
Port Hueneme does not impose breed-specific legislation banning any particular dog breed. California state law (Food & Agricultural Code §31683) preempts local breed-specific bans. However, dogs declared dangerous or vicious face additional requirements regardless of breed.
- 14
Mansfield does not ban any dog breed. TX Health and Safety Code 822 (Lillian's Law) preempts city breed bans and uses a behavior-based dangerous dog standard. HOAs may privately restrict breeds.
- 15
Bellaire does not impose breed-specific legislation (BSL) banning or restricting particular dog breeds. Texas state law under HB 4111 prohibits municipalities from enacting breed-specific bans. All dogs in Bellaire are subject to the same leash, vaccination, and dangerous dog provisions regardless of breed.
- 16
NY Agriculture & Markets Law §107(5) preempts breed-specific legislation statewide, so Orange County NY and its municipalities (Newburgh, Middletown, Goshen) cannot ban pit bulls or any other breed. Dangerous-dog determinations are behavior-based under Ag & Markets §123.
- 17
Denton County has no breed-specific legislation. Texas state law under Health and Safety Code Chapter 822 uses a behavior-based dangerous dog approach rather than breed bans. No breed is prohibited in unincorporated Denton County.
- 18
Grapevine does not ban any specific dog breed. Texas Health and Safety Code 822 preempts breed-specific legislation statewide. Dangerous-dog classifications apply by individual behavior regardless of breed.
- 19
Victorville does not ban dog breeds. California Food and Agricultural Code Section 31683 preempts breed-specific legislation, but the city can apply breed-neutral dangerous dog rules under VMC Title 7.
- 20
Newport Beach does not impose breed-specific legislation banning particular dog breeds. California state law prohibits cities from enacting breed-specific bans. However, dogs declared dangerous or vicious under state law face additional restrictions regardless of breed.
- 21El Monte, CAFew Restrictions
El Monte does not have breed-specific legislation. All dogs must be licensed per CA Food & Agricultural Code 30500. Dangerous and vicious dog determinations are handled on a case-by-case basis by Animal Control.
- 22
No breed-specific legislation. NY Agriculture & Markets Law 123 is behavior-based and NYC Health Code 161.02 governs dangerous dogs by conduct, not breed.
- 23
Wayne County does not impose breed-specific legislation. Detroit lifted its pit bull restrictions years ago. Michigan MCL 287.321 regulates dangerous dogs by behavior, not breed.
- 24
Baytown does not have breed-specific legislation (BSL). No dog breeds are banned or subject to special restrictions within the city. Texas state law does not ban specific breeds and generally preempts local breed bans. Baytown enforces dangerous dog laws based on individual dog behavior rather than breed under Chapter 14 and Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 822.
- 25
La Porte does not have breed-specific legislation (BSL) banning any particular dog breeds. Texas state law prohibits cities from enacting breed-specific bans. However, La Porte has dangerous dog regulations that apply to any dog of any breed that has attacked or bitten a person or animal. Owners of dogs declared dangerous face additional requirements.
State-by-State Breakdown
How each state leans overall, based on the cities and counties we have data for in that state.
| State | Total | Strict | Moderate | Permissive | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 122 | 8 | 17 | 97 | Few Restrictions |
| Texas | 67 | - | 13 | 54 | Few Restrictions |
| Florida | 60 | 1 | 4 | 55 | Few Restrictions |
| New York | 32 | - | - | 32 | Few Restrictions |
| Wisconsin | 30 | - | 28 | 2 | Some Restrictions |
| Massachusetts | 25 | - | 13 | 12 | Some Restrictions |
| Illinois | 25 | 2 | 14 | 9 | Some Restrictions |
| New Jersey | 24 | 3 | 6 | 15 | Few Restrictions |
| Georgia | 22 | - | 2 | 20 | Few Restrictions |
| Mississippi | 21 | - | 21 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Colorado | 19 | - | 7 | 12 | Few Restrictions |
| Arizona | 18 | - | 8 | 10 | Few Restrictions |
| Ohio | 16 | - | 7 | 9 | Few Restrictions |
| North Carolina | 13 | - | 4 | 9 | Few Restrictions |
| Utah | 13 | 1 | - | 12 | Few Restrictions |
| Pennsylvania | 13 | - | 5 | 8 | Few Restrictions |
| Washington | 13 | - | 2 | 11 | Few Restrictions |
| Virginia | 12 | 1 | 3 | 8 | Few Restrictions |
| Hawaii | 12 | - | 3 | 9 | Few Restrictions |
| Michigan | 11 | - | 4 | 7 | Few Restrictions |
| Oregon | 11 | - | - | 11 | Few Restrictions |
| Oklahoma | 10 | 5 | - | 5 | Heavy Restrictions |
| Maryland | 9 | - | 2 | 7 | Few Restrictions |
| Alabama | 8 | - | 1 | 7 | Few Restrictions |
| Missouri | 7 | 1 | 5 | 1 | Some Restrictions |
| Tennessee | 7 | - | - | 7 | Few Restrictions |
| Nevada | 5 | - | - | 5 | Few Restrictions |
| Kansas | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | Some Restrictions |
| Minnesota | 5 | - | 5 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Connecticut | 5 | - | 4 | 1 | Some Restrictions |
| Rhode Island | 5 | - | 1 | 4 | Few Restrictions |
| Louisiana | 4 | - | 1 | 3 | Few Restrictions |
| New Mexico | 4 | 1 | - | 3 | Few Restrictions |
| Indiana | 4 | - | 3 | 1 | Some Restrictions |
| North Dakota | 3 | - | - | 3 | Few Restrictions |
| Kentucky | 3 | - | 1 | 2 | Few Restrictions |
| Nebraska | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Heavy Restrictions |
| South Carolina | 3 | - | - | 3 | Few Restrictions |
| Iowa | 2 | - | 1 | 1 | Some Restrictions |
| District of Columbia | 2 | - | - | 2 | Few Restrictions |
| Delaware | 2 | - | 2 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Alaska | 1 | - | - | 1 | Few Restrictions |
| Idaho | 1 | - | - | 1 | Few Restrictions |
| Vermont | 1 | - | - | 1 | Few Restrictions |
| Montana | 1 | - | 1 | - | Some Restrictions |
| New Hampshire | 1 | - | - | 1 | Few Restrictions |
| Wyoming | 1 | - | 1 | - | Some Restrictions |
| West Virginia | 1 | - | 1 | - | Some Restrictions |
| South Dakota | 1 | - | - | 1 | Few Restrictions |
| Arkansas | 1 | - | - | 1 | Few Restrictions |
Complete List
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Dallas ban pit bulls or any dog breeds?
What makes a dog 'dangerous' in Dallas?
Are pit bulls banned in unincorporated Dallas County?
What happens if my dog is declared dangerous?
Are pit bulls banned in Ventura?
Who handles dangerous dog complaints?
Are pit bulls banned in San Bernardino County?
Can my HOA or landlord still ban certain breeds?
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