Restricted breed laws ::

Over 900 U.S. cities have enacted restricted breed laws to regulate dangerous dog breeds. View model and noted ordinances and breed-based mandatory spaying and neutering ordinances.

Types of ordinances

Model & Noted Laws

A list of model ordinances that restrict dangerous dog breeds that have withstood legal challenges, and noted ordinances that contain a blend of spaying and neutering and anti-tethering provisions.

Spaying & Neutering Laws

A list of mandatory spaying and neutering ordinances for specific breeds, primarily pit bulls and their bull breed derivatives. Some ordinances also require mandatory microchipping or insurance.

State-by-State Ordinances

Our vast collection of over 900 restricted breed ordinances state-by-state now requires a login. This website area is reserved for city officials and legal researchers. Please contact us for access.

Military Housing Policies

Since 2012, all major U.S. military divisions have enacted restricted breed policies that prohibit dangerous dog breeds from privatized housing, chiefly: pit bulls, rottweilers and wolf-dog hybrids.

Indian Reservation Laws

A list of Indian reservations with restricted breed ordinances to protect public safety, from Washington to Wisconsin, along with Tribal lands in the Northwest, Great Plains, Southwest and Southeast regions.

Housing Authority Policies

A sampling of public housing authorities with restricted breed policies to protect residents, including the New York City Housing Authority. These policies always include pit bulls and rottweilers.

Also see:  State Preemption Map  |  Fighting Preemption  |  Deaths After Preemption

Constitutional laws

Appellate courts in fifteen states and the District of Columbia have upheld the constitutionality of laws that restrict dangerous dog breeds. Learn more in our section about the constitutionality of these laws.

  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Colorado
  • District of Columbia
  • Florida
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Maryland
  • Missouri
  • New Mexico
  • Ohio
  • Utah
  • Washington
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin

International laws

Many foreign countries have enacted national-level breed restrictions to protect public safety, including the United Kingdom, Singapore, Australia, and more. View a full list of these countries.