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
Akron does not enforce breed-specific legislation. Ohio repealed its statewide pit bull designation in 2012. Dogs are regulated based on individual behavior. Dogs declared dangerous or vicious face additional requirements regardless of breed.
- 2
Albuquerque has no breed-specific ban; the HEART Ordinance regulates dogs by individual behavior, defining 'Aggressive' through objective observation rather than breed. New Mexico's Dangerous Dog Act likewise defines dangerous and potentially dangerous dogs strictly by conduct, not breed.
- 3
Allen has no breed-specific legislation. Texas Health & Safety Code Sec. 822.047 prohibits municipalities from regulating dogs based on breed. Dangerous dog determinations are behavior-based under Lillian's Law.
- 4
Allentown cannot ban or restrict any dog breed. Pennsylvania's Dog Law (3 P.S. Sec. 459-507-A) expressly abrogates local dangerous-dog ordinances and forbids any municipality from prohibiting or limiting a specific breed, so breeds such as pit bulls and Rottweilers are legal citywide and are regulated only by behavior under the state dangerous-dog law.
- 5
Amarillo does not impose breed-specific bans. Texas state law (HB 292, 2023) prohibits municipalities from banning specific dog breeds. Amarillo enforces behavior-based dangerous dog provisions.
- 6
Anaheim does not impose breed-specific restrictions. California state law (Food & Agriculture Code 31683) prohibits breed-specific bans. Dangerous and vicious dogs are regulated based on behavior under state law and AMC Chapter 8.08.
- 7Anchorage, AKFew Restrictions
Anchorage's animal code classifies dogs as dangerous by specific bite or aggression behavior under AMC 17.40, not by breed: there's no pit bull or breed-specific ban in the Municipal Code.
- 8
Ann Arbor's dangerous-animal definition expressly excludes breed as a factor: City Code § 9:45(2) says an animal is not dangerous solely 'because of its breed or perceived breed.'
- 9Antioch, CAFew Restrictions
California law bars Antioch from writing breed-specific dangerous-dog rules: Cal. Food & Agric. Code § 31683 lets cities adopt their own "potentially dangerous or vicious" dog program but forbids making it specific as to breed. Antioch's own ordinance, AMC §§ 6-1.801 through 6-1.805, applies a purely behavior-based test instead.
- 10
No breed bans allowed in Apopka. FL Statute 767.14 preempts local breed-specific legislation statewide. Dangerous dog classification under FL 767 is behavior-based, not breed-based. Pit bulls, Rottweilers, and other breeds fully legal.
- 11
Atlanta Code § 18-10 bars breed-specific dog ordinances outright; instead, the Fulton-portion dangerous/vicious dog classification system (§§ 18-115, 18-170–18-173) targets individual dogs by their own bite or attack history, not their breed.
- 12
Aurora has no breed ban: pit bull-type dogs follow the same rules as any other dog under City Code Chapter 14.
- 13
Breed-specific dog bans are prohibited in Florida, so Bay County cannot outlaw any breed. Section 767.14 lets local governments regulate dangerous dogs but bars any rule specific to breed, weight, or size. A 2023 amendment ended the last grandfathered ban.
- 14
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.
- 15
Texas preempts breed-specific laws under TX Health and Safety Code 822.047, so Bexar County and San Antonio cannot ban any breed. Lillian's Law applies to any dangerous dog regardless of breed.
- 16
Birmingham does not impose a breed-specific ban. Alabama's dangerous-dog law (Emily's Law) is expressly breed-neutral: a dog is judged dangerous by its conduct, regardless of breed, which constrains any local breed-specific legislation.
- 17
Boca Raton does not have breed-specific legislation banning particular dog breeds. Florida state law (F.S. 767.14) prohibits local governments from enacting breed-specific regulations.
- 18Boston, MAFew Restrictions
Boston runs no breed-specific ban. Under Code § 16-1.9B.2, a dog cannot be deemed dangerous "based upon the breed of the dog," and the Hearing Authority of the Animal Care and Control Unit may not regulate dogs "in a manner that is specific to breed," citing M.G.L. Chapter 140, Section 157(c).
- 19
Boulder County has no breed-specific dog ban. Colorado state law (C.R.S. 18-9-204.5) regulates dangerous dogs by behavior, not breed, and C.R.S. 18-9-204.5(5)(b) bars any local regulation that is specific as to breed. The county handles risky dogs through its vicious-dog process.
- 20
Brookline has no breed-specific legislation. Massachusetts does not permit BSL under state law. Dangerous dog classification is behavior-based under MGL c. 140. Brookline has banned exotic animals in traveling shows.
- 21
FL 767.14 (SB 942, effective October 1, 2023) preempts local breed-specific legislation. Broward County cannot ban any dog breed. Dangerous dog classification under FL 767 is based on individual behavior.
- 22
Brownsville does not impose breed-specific bans. Texas state law does not preempt local breed-specific legislation, but Brownsville focuses on dangerous dog determinations based on individual behavior.
- 23
Butte County does not impose any breed-specific ban or designation of dangerous or vicious dogs. California Food and Agricultural Code § 31683 expressly preempts breed-specific potentially-dangerous or vicious designations; only spay/neuter and breeding ordinances may be breed-specific under Health and Safety Code § 122331.
- 24
Cambridge does not impose breed-specific restrictions; Massachusetts General Law Chapter 140 Section 157A prohibits cities from regulating dogs based on breed.
- 25
Cary does not impose breed-specific legislation. North Carolina state law addresses dangerous dogs regardless of breed. Individual dogs may be designated as dangerous or potentially dangerous based on behavior.
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 | 182 | 17 | 68 | 16 | Some Restrictions |
| Florida | 81 | 2 | 11 | 44 | Some Restrictions |
| Texas | 79 | 1 | 4 | 53 | Light Restrictions |
| North Carolina | 35 | 2 | 6 | 6 | Some Restrictions |
| Georgia | 34 | - | 1 | 6 | Some Restrictions |
| Washington | 33 | 1 | 5 | 4 | Significant Restrictions |
| Illinois | 29 | 2 | 5 | 6 | Some Restrictions |
| Virginia | 27 | 2 | 8 | 10 | Some Restrictions |
| Wisconsin | 21 | 2 | 2 | - | Significant Restrictions |
| Colorado | 20 | - | 6 | 6 | Some Restrictions |
| Massachusetts | 19 | 1 | 2 | 9 | Light Restrictions |
| New York | 19 | - | 2 | 3 | Some Restrictions |
| New Jersey | 17 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Significant Restrictions |
| Ohio | 17 | 1 | 7 | 8 | Some Restrictions |
| South Carolina | 17 | - | 6 | 4 | Some Restrictions |
| Arizona | 15 | - | 1 | 3 | Some Restrictions |
| Michigan | 15 | 4 | 4 | 1 | Significant Restrictions |
| Indiana | 14 | - | 4 | 1 | Some Restrictions |
| Missouri | 14 | 2 | 2 | - | Significant Restrictions |
| Utah | 14 | 1 | 1 | 2 | Significant Restrictions |
| Louisiana | 13 | 1 | 3 | 1 | Some Restrictions |
| Arkansas | 12 | 1 | - | 1 | Significant Restrictions |
| Maryland | 12 | - | 1 | 1 | Significant Restrictions |
| Minnesota | 11 | - | 5 | 2 | Some Restrictions |
| Pennsylvania | 10 | 1 | 1 | 4 | Some Restrictions |
| Alabama | 9 | - | 4 | 2 | Some Restrictions |
| Kansas | 9 | - | 1 | 4 | Some Restrictions |
| Oregon | 9 | - | 3 | 1 | Some Restrictions |
| New Mexico | 7 | - | 1 | 1 | Some Restrictions |
| Tennessee | 7 | - | 1 | 3 | Some Restrictions |
| Connecticut | 6 | 1 | - | 1 | Significant Restrictions |
| Idaho | 6 | - | 2 | - | Some Restrictions |
| Iowa | 6 | 2 | 1 | - | Significant Restrictions |
| Kentucky | 6 | - | - | 1 | Significant Restrictions |
| Oklahoma | 6 | - | 1 | 2 | Some Restrictions |
| Nebraska | 5 | - | 3 | 1 | Some Restrictions |
| Nevada | 5 | - | 2 | 1 | Some Restrictions |
| Rhode Island | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Some Restrictions |
| Delaware | 3 | - | - | 2 | Few Restrictions |
| Hawaii | 3 | - | - | 1 | Significant Restrictions |
| South Dakota | 3 | - | - | 1 | Significant Restrictions |
| Alaska | 2 | - | 1 | 1 | Some Restrictions |
| Mississippi | 2 | - | - | - | Significant Restrictions |
| West Virginia | 2 | - | 1 | - | Significant Restrictions |
| District of Columbia | 1 | - | - | 1 | Few Restrictions |
| Maine | 1 | - | - | 1 | Few Restrictions |
| New Hampshire | 1 | - | - | - | Light Restrictions |
| North Dakota | 1 | - | - | - | Significant Restrictions |
| Wyoming | 1 | - | - | - | Significant Restrictions |
Complete List
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are pit bulls banned in Akron?
What if my dog is declared dangerous?
Are pit bulls or any breeds banned in Albuquerque?
What makes a dog 'dangerous' under New Mexico law?
What happens if my dog is declared dangerous?
Are pit bulls legal in Allen, TX?
Can Allen declare my dog dangerous?
What happens if my dog is declared dangerous in Allen?
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