In the United States, the laws regarding dangerous dog breeds vary by location. Cities in some states may have ordinances that ban or restrict certain breeds of dogs that are deemed vicious or dangerous, but some states may not allow the breed at all. As a country, the United States does not have a federal law that bans a specific dog breed. However, many US cities and states have breed-specific legislation which can vary widely. Only a few states in the US have state laws that prohibit breed-specific legislation. These states include Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Florida and California. So, before purchasing a large dog, it's essential to know your local ordinances.
.jpg)
Alabama
Pit bulls, Rottweilers, Wolf-Dogs, Presa Canario, Bull Rottweilers, and Terriers are banned or restricted by cities in Alabama, including Albertville, Center Point, Fayette, Gadsden, Irondale, Jacksonville City, Lanett, Midfield, Tarrant, and Weaver. Check the Alabama BLS Census.
Alaska
Neither Alaska nor cities in Alaska have breed-specific legislation in place. However, any dog that bites or attacks a human unprovoked is considered vicious in The Last Frontier. According to Sec. 03.55.010, it is legal for a person to kill any vicious or mad dog running at large or chasing livestock in the state of Alaska.
Arizona
Arizona is one of the few states that prohibit breed-specific legislation. But according to Arizona dog laws, dog owners have the responsibility to prevent their aggressive dogs from escaping their property or enclosed area. Failure to comply with these rules can result in a Class 1 misdemeanor, regardless of whether or not the canine bites someone while running at large.
Arkansas
Pit Bulls, American Bulldogs, Rottweilers, and Bullmastiffs are banned or restricted in the following Arkansas cities, Arkadelphia, Beebe, Batesville, Blevins, Caddo Valley, Caraway, Carlisle, De Queen, Dardanelle, Dierks, Des Arc, Gassville, Dover, Hot Springs, Humphrey, Lake City, Lake Village, Jacksonville, Lonoke, McGehee, Mayflower, Mineral Springs, Mountain Home, Morrilton, Murfreesboro, Nashville, North Little Rock, Osceola, Prescott, Ravenden, Pangburn, Russellville, Salem, Shannon Hills, and Trumann.
Either Pit Bulls, American Bulldogs, Rottweilers, and Bullmastiffs are banned or restricted in each of the Arkansas cities listed above.
California
German shepherds, Akitas, Rottweilers, Pit bulls and Terriers are considered dangerous or aggressive in many California cities.
Colorado
American Bulldogs, Cane Corsos, Canary Dogs, Tosa Inus, Presa Mallorquins, Terriers, Dogo Argentinos, and Fila Brasileiro are banned or restricted in many Colorado municipalities including Aurora, Castle Rock, Commerce City, Fort Lupton, Louisville, Simla, Denver, Commerce City, and Fort Lupton.
Connecticut
Pit bulls are restricted in Connecticut. Pet owners can not have more than two Pit bulls in one residence in Connecticut. In addition, pet owners are required to keep their Pit bulls on a leash or muzzle them while in public.
Delaware
In 2017, Delaware Governor John Carney signed a bill that put an end to breed-specific legislation throughout the state. The law bans municipalities in the Blue Hen State from enacting discriminatory ordinances against specific dog breeds.
Florida
American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, and Staffordshire Bull Terriers are illegal to own in Miami-Dade County, Florida, according to Miami-Dade College. According to City and State Florida, the Miami-Dade pit bull ban could soon be going to the pound if the legislation filed in the Florida Legislature to revoke the ban passes in 2023.
Breeds like Doberman Pinchers, Cane Corsos, German Shepherds, Mastiffs and Rottweilers are deemed aggressive and are banned from rental properties in South Florida.
Georgia
Bulldogs, Bull Terriers, Pit Bulls, Pit Bull Terriers, Rottweilers, Dobermans, German Shepherds, and Chow Chows are banned or restricted in the following Georgia cities: Blackshear, Clarkston, College Park, Fitzgerald, Hawkinsville, LaFayette, Lyons, Marietta, and Rome.
Hawaii
Pit Bull Terries, Chow Chows, Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, Staffordshire Terriers, and wolf hybrids are restricted in Hawaii residences.
Idaho
Pit Bulls are banned or restricted in the following Idaho cities: Ashton, Cascade, Georgetown, and Jerome.
Illinois
Rottweilers, German Shepherds, and Pit bulls are banned or restricted in the following Illinois cities and villages: Barry, Markham, North Chicago, Prospect Heights, Buffalo Grove, Hanover, and Maywood.
Indiana
Pit Bulls, Chow Chows, Akitas, Doberman Pinschers, Bull Terriers, Presa Canarios, Rottweilers and Wolf-dogs are banned or restricted in the following Indiana cities: East Chicago, Fowler, Gary, Greendale, Kirklin, Lake County, Merrillville, Milan, Argos, Schererville Town, and Walkerton.
Iowa
Wolf-dog hybrids, Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Presa Carario, Akitas, Dobermans, and Chow Chows are banned or restricted in many Iowa cities including Albia, Algona, Asbury, Audubon, Avoca, Bedford, Belle Plaine, Benton County, Britt, Cascade, Centerville, Cherokee, Coggon, Coggon, Columbus Junction, Council Bluffs, Creston, Dallas Center, Dayton, Denver, Des Moines, Dyersville, Earlham, Ely, Epworth, Estherville, Evansdale, Fertile, Forest City, Fruitland, Glenwood, Griswold, Harlan, Hartley, Hawarden, Hopkinton, Humboldt, Lake View, Laurens, Lewis, Logan, Lowden, Malvern, Maquoketa, Middletown, Missouri Valley, Monticello, Newell, Osceola, Ottumwa, Oxford, Pleasant Hill, Pocahontas, Postville, Randolph, Sac City, Sergeant Bluff, Shelby, Sioux City, Spirit Lake, Ute, Vinton, Walcott, Waukon, Wayland, Wellman, West Union, and Winterset.
Kansas
Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Doberman Pinchers, Tundra Shepherds, Bull Terriers, Presa Canarios, and Dogo Argentinos are banned or restricted in several Kansas cities including Arkansas City, a city in Cowley County, Kansas, Abilene, Anthony, Argonia, Attica, Augusta, Blue Rapids, Bucklin, Burlingame, Chanute, Chapman, and Cherokee County. View the full list here.
Kentucky
Pit bulls, Wolf-dogs, Chow Chows, Doberman pinschers, Bullmastiffs, and Rottweilers are banned or restricted in the following Kentucky cities and counties: Auburn, Augusta, Bracken County, Butler, Covington, Cresent Springs, Erlanger, Elsmere, Falmouth, Flatwoods, Flemingsburg, Fort Thomas, Franklin, Fulton, Horse Cave, Lewis County, Ludlow, Mayfield, Maysville, Morehead, Newport, Paris, Pendleton County, Silver Grove, Southgate, Union County, Vanceburg, Walton, and Williamstown.
Louisiana
Rottweilers, Pit bulls, Akitas, Alaskan malamutes, German shepherds, Doberman pinschers, Chow Chows, Siberian huskies, Presa Canarios, Wolf-hybrids, and Bull terriers are banned or restricted in many Louisiana cities and towns including Addis, Bastrop, Berwick, Breaux Bridge, Bunkie, Crowley, DeQuincy, Franklin, Gretna, Jeanerette, Kindner, Leesville, Lincoln Parish, and Lutcher. View the full list here.
Maine
Akitas, Dobermans, Huskies, Presa Canarios, Rottweilers, Chow Chows, Pit bulls, German Shepherds, American Bulldogs, Staffordshire Terriers, Great Danes, Bull terriers, and Bullmastiffs are the commonly restricted breed in the state of Maine.
Maryland
Pit bulls are banned or restricted in the following Maryland cities and counties: Prince George's County, Edmonston, Ridgely, and Port Deposit.
Massachusetts
Presa Canarios, Rottweilers, Wolf hybrids, Chow chows, Siberian Huskies, Akitas, German shepherds, Pit bulls, Alaskan malamutes and Great Danes are often restricted by Homeowners Insurance in Massachusetts.
Michigan
Restricted dog breeds in Michigan include Pit bulls and Rottweilers. These dog breeds are banned or restricted in the following Michigan cities and townships: Alma, Bessemer Township, Buena Vista Charter Township, Carson City, Center Line, Claybanks Township, Dearborn Heights, Ecorse, Grosse Pointe Woods, Harper Woods, Hartford, Hazel Park, Highland Park, Kingsford, Lapeer, Melvindale, Moorland Township, Morenci, Mount Clemens, Muskegon, Muskegon Heights, and Newaygo.
Minnesota
Breed-specific legislation is not legal in the state of Minnesota. However, Wolf-dogs are banned in the cities of Rochester and Wayzata.
Mississippi
Wolf-dogs, Pit bulls, Rottweilers, Chow chows, German shepherds, Doberman pinchers, and Belgian Malinois are banned or restricted in many Mississippi cities and counties, including Aberdeen, Ashland, Bolivar County, Booneville, Byram, Brandon, Carroll County, Carthage, Clarksdale, Cleveland, Clinton, Collins, Columbus, Corinth, Crystal Springs, Ellisville, Flowood, Gautier, Greenville, Greenwood, Grenada, Indianola, and Leflore County.
Missouri
American bulldogs, Doberman pinschers, Chow chows, and Rottweilers are banned or restricted in many Missouri cities including Bellefontaine Neighbors, Berkeley, Bethany, Bloomfield, Bonne Terre, Branson West, Branson West, California (a city Moniteau County, Missouri), Camdenton, Carl Junction, Carthage, Caruthersville, and Chaffee.
Montana
Wolf-dogs are banned in the cities of Baker and Billings, Montana. Pit bulls, Rottweilers and Doberman pinschers require mandatory insurance in White Sulphur Springs, Montana.
Nebraska
Chow chows, Dogo Argentinos, Pit bulls, Cane Corsos, American bulldogs, Presa Canarios, Doberman pinschers, and Rottweilers are banned or restricted in the following Nebraska cities: Albion, Auburn, Beaver Crossing, Beatrice, Blair, Bridgeport, Ceresco, Gordon, Hebron, Loup City, Minden, Omaha, Osceola, Rushville, Schuyler, South Sioux City, Wayne, Arlington Village, and Stratton Village.
Nevada
Nevada laws prohibit dog breed discrimination, meaning no county or city in Nevada has the authority to place a ban on a dog breed.
New Hampshire
There are no laws in New Hampshire State that ban any particular breed of dog.
New Jersey
New Jersey law prohibits local municipalities from placing a ban on specific dog breeds such as Rottweilers and Pit bulls.
New York
Pit Bulls, Doberman Pinschers, Rottweilers, Chow Chows, Presa Canarios, and Wolf-dogs are banned or restricted by The New York City Housing Authority.
North Carolina
Pit bulls, Rottweilers and Chow chows are considered potentially vicious in two North Carolina cities: Lumberton and Edenton.
North Dakota
Doberman pinschers, Rottweilers, and Pit bulls are banned or restricted in several North Dakota cities including Bowman, Burlington, Cando, Center, Des Lacs, Devils Lake, Glenburn, Hillsboro, Kenmare, Ray, Velva, Watford City, Williston, Wilton.
Ohio
American bulldogs, Canary dogs, Pit bulls, Presa Canarios, German shepherds, and Doberman pinschers are banned or restricted in many Ohio cities and villages including Akron, Ashtabula, Barberton, Bedford Heights, Bellefontaine, Bellville, Broadview Heights, Brook Park, Brooklyn, Canal Winchester, Carlisle, Chardon, Cheviot, Cleveland Heights, Columbiana, Conneaut, Elmwood Place, Englewood, Elucid, Fairfield, Fairlawn, Fairview Park, and Gallipolis. View the full list.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma municipalities are prohibited from banning specific dog breeds.
Oregon
Pit bulls and fighting breeds such as Dogo Argentinos and Canary dogs are deemed dangerous in Malheur County, Oregon, Heppner, Morrow County, Oregon, and Malin, Klamath County, Oregon.
Pennsylvania
Pit bulls are restricted in the following Pennsylvania cities and townships: Clairton, Camden, Collingdale, Glenolden, Deerfield, and Marple.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island prohibits its municipalities from enacting breed-specific legislation.
South Carolina
Chow chows, Doberman pinschers, and Pit bulls are restricted in the following South Carolina county and cities: Beaufort County, Dillon, Travelers Rest, and Ware Shoals.
South Dakota
The state of South Dakota prohibits its municipalities and counties from enacting breed-specific laws.
Tennessee
Doberman pinschers, German shepherds, Pit bulls, and Rottweilers are banned or restricted in many Tennessee municipalities including Adamsville, Baileyton, Brownsville, Ducktown, Dyer, Estill Springs, Etowah, Fayetteville, Grand Junction, Greenbrier, Halls, Hardeman County, Harriman, Henderson, Jefferson City, Lafayette, Madisonville, Manchester, and Middleton.
Texas
Texas state prohibits its counties and municipalities from enacting breed-specific laws.
Utah
Utah law prohibits cities and counties from creating dog discrimination laws.
Vermont
Wolf-dogs are restricted in the following Vermont towns: Brookline, Castleton, Hyde Park, Jamaica, Newfane, Pittsford, Putney, Rockingham, Waterford, and Westminster.
Virginia
Virginia has a state-level law that prohibits its counties and cities from enacting breed-specific laws.
Washington
Cane Corsos, Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terrier, Akitas, Dogo Argentinos, Dogue de Bordeaux, Presa Canarios, and Tosa Inus are banned or restricted in many Washington cities including Auburn, Brewster, Bridgeport, Buckely, Cathlamet, Coulee Dam, Enumclaw, Everett, Everson, Grandview, Harrah, Kennewick, Othello, Pasco, Prosser, Quincy, Rainier, Rensselaer, Rosalia, Royal City, Selah, and Soap Lake.
West Virginia
American bulldogs, Canary dogs, Wolf-dogs, and Pit bulls are banned or restricted in the following West Virginia cities: Barboursville, Bluefield, Ceredo, Dunbar, Fayetteville, Huntington, Montgomery, and Wheeling.
Wisconsin
Doberman pinschers, Wolf-dogs, Presa Canarios, Mastiffs, Dogo Argentinos, and Pit bulls and banned or restricted in several Wisconsin cities including Abbotsford, Arcadia, Antigo, Augusta, Bloomer, Chetek, Cudahy, Dodgeville, Fox Lake, Greenwood, Lancaster, Mayville, Milwaukee, Montello, Neillsville, New Lisbon, Oconomowoc, Ripon, St. Croix Falls, St. Francis, and Shullsburg.
Wyoming
According to BSL Census, Pit bulls and banned in Manderson, a town in Big Horn County, Wyoming.
.jpg)
