12 State prohibits breed-specific rules10 Limited protection29 Cities and counties may restrict breeds
| State | Status | What the law says |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Cities and counties may restrict breeds | Alabama has no state law stopping cities and counties from banning or restricting dogs by breed. Whether a breed is restricted depends on where you live — check your city or county ordinances before moving with a pit bull–type or other targeted breed. |
| Alaska | Cities and counties may restrict breeds | Alaska has no state law stopping cities and counties from banning or restricting dogs by breed. Whether a breed is restricted depends on where you live — check your city or county ordinances before moving with a pit bull–type or other targeted breed. |
| Arizona | State prohibits breed-specific rules | Yes — Arizona bans breed-specific rules. Counties may only enforce city dog ordinances that are not specific to any breed. |
| Arkansas | Cities and counties may restrict breeds | Arkansas has no state law stopping cities and counties from banning or restricting dogs by breed. Whether a breed is restricted depends on where you live — check your city or county ordinances before moving with a pit bull–type or other targeted breed. |
| California | Limited protection | Partly. Local dangerous-dog programs may not be breed-specific, though cities may use breed-specific spay/neuter and breeding rules. Other breed-based rules are not expressly prohibited, so check your city’s ordinances. |
| Colorado | Limited protection | Partly. Local dangerous-dog rules may not be specific to breed. Other breed-based rules are not expressly prohibited, so check your city’s ordinances. |
| Connecticut | State prohibits breed-specific rules | Yes — Connecticut bans breed-specific rules. No municipality may adopt breed-specific dog ordinances. |
| Delaware | State prohibits breed-specific rules | Yes — Delaware bans breed-specific rules. Municipalities may not pass any law or rule about dogs based on breed or perceived breed, and no dog is dangerous solely because of its breed. |
| District of Columbia | Cities and counties may restrict breeds | The District of Columbia has no state law stopping cities and counties from banning or restricting dogs by breed. Whether a breed is restricted depends on where you live — check your city or county ordinances before moving with a pit bull–type or other targeted breed. |
| Florida | State prohibits breed-specific rules | Yes — Florida bans breed-specific rules. Local governments may not regulate dangerous dogs by breed, and since a 2023 amendment they may not ban or restrict any breed. |
| Georgia | Cities and counties may restrict breeds | Georgia has no state law stopping cities and counties from banning or restricting dogs by breed. Whether a breed is restricted depends on where you live — check your city or county ordinances before moving with a pit bull–type or other targeted breed. |
| Hawaii | Cities and counties may restrict breeds | Hawaii has no state law stopping cities and counties from banning or restricting dogs by breed. Whether a breed is restricted depends on where you live — check your city or county ordinances before moving with a pit bull–type or other targeted breed. |
| Idaho | Cities and counties may restrict breeds | Idaho has no state law stopping cities and counties from banning or restricting dogs by breed. Whether a breed is restricted depends on where you live — check your city or county ordinances before moving with a pit bull–type or other targeted breed. |
| Illinois | State prohibits breed-specific rules | Yes — Illinois bans breed-specific rules. Local rules may not be specific to breed, and dogs may not be classed as vicious by breed. |
| Indiana | Cities and counties may restrict breeds | Indiana has no state law stopping cities and counties from banning or restricting dogs by breed. Whether a breed is restricted depends on where you live — check your city or county ordinances before moving with a pit bull–type or other targeted breed. |
| Iowa | Cities and counties may restrict breeds | Iowa has no state law stopping cities and counties from banning or restricting dogs by breed. Whether a breed is restricted depends on where you live — check your city or county ordinances before moving with a pit bull–type or other targeted breed. |
| Kansas | Cities and counties may restrict breeds | Kansas has no state law stopping cities and counties from banning or restricting dogs by breed. Whether a breed is restricted depends on where you live — check your city or county ordinances before moving with a pit bull–type or other targeted breed. |
| Kentucky | Cities and counties may restrict breeds | Kentucky has no state law stopping cities and counties from banning or restricting dogs by breed. Whether a breed is restricted depends on where you live — check your city or county ordinances before moving with a pit bull–type or other targeted breed. |
| Louisiana | Cities and counties may restrict breeds | Louisiana has no state law stopping cities and counties from banning or restricting dogs by breed. Whether a breed is restricted depends on where you live — check your city or county ordinances before moving with a pit bull–type or other targeted breed. |
| Maine | State prohibits breed-specific rules | Yes — Maine bans breed-specific rules. Municipalities may not adopt breed-specific ordinances. |
| Maryland | Cities and counties may restrict breeds | Maryland has no state law stopping cities and counties from banning or restricting dogs by breed. Whether a breed is restricted depends on where you live — check your city or county ordinances before moving with a pit bull–type or other targeted breed. |
| Massachusetts | Limited protection | Partly. No dog may be declared dangerous because of its breed. Other breed-based rules are not expressly prohibited, so check your city’s ordinances. |
| Michigan | Cities and counties may restrict breeds | Michigan has no state law stopping cities and counties from banning or restricting dogs by breed. Whether a breed is restricted depends on where you live — check your city or county ordinances before moving with a pit bull–type or other targeted breed. |
| Minnesota | Limited protection | Partly. Cities and counties may not regulate dangerous dogs based solely on breed. Other breed-based rules are not expressly prohibited, so check your city’s ordinances. |
| Mississippi | Cities and counties may restrict breeds | Mississippi has no state law stopping cities and counties from banning or restricting dogs by breed. Whether a breed is restricted depends on where you live — check your city or county ordinances before moving with a pit bull–type or other targeted breed. |
| Missouri | Cities and counties may restrict breeds | Missouri has no state law stopping cities and counties from banning or restricting dogs by breed. Whether a breed is restricted depends on where you live — check your city or county ordinances before moving with a pit bull–type or other targeted breed. |
| Montana | Cities and counties may restrict breeds | Montana has no state law stopping cities and counties from banning or restricting dogs by breed. Whether a breed is restricted depends on where you live — check your city or county ordinances before moving with a pit bull–type or other targeted breed. |
| Nebraska | Cities and counties may restrict breeds | Nebraska has no state law stopping cities and counties from banning or restricting dogs by breed. Whether a breed is restricted depends on where you live — check your city or county ordinances before moving with a pit bull–type or other targeted breed. |
| Nevada | Limited protection | Partly. A dog may not be found dangerous or vicious based solely on its breed. Other breed-based rules are not expressly prohibited, so check your city’s ordinances. |
| New Hampshire | Cities and counties may restrict breeds | New Hampshire has no state law stopping cities and counties from banning or restricting dogs by breed. Whether a breed is restricted depends on where you live — check your city or county ordinances before moving with a pit bull–type or other targeted breed. |
| New Jersey | Limited protection | Partly. The state vicious-dog law overrides local rules about dangerous dogs or specific breeds. Other breed-based rules are not expressly prohibited, so check your city’s ordinances. |
| New Mexico | Cities and counties may restrict breeds | New Mexico has no state law stopping cities and counties from banning or restricting dogs by breed. Whether a breed is restricted depends on where you live — check your city or county ordinances before moving with a pit bull–type or other targeted breed. |
| New York | Limited protection | Partly. Local dangerous-dog programs may not regulate dogs by breed. Other breed-based rules are not expressly prohibited, so check your city’s ordinances. |
| North Carolina | Cities and counties may restrict breeds | North Carolina has no state law stopping cities and counties from banning or restricting dogs by breed. Whether a breed is restricted depends on where you live — check your city or county ordinances before moving with a pit bull–type or other targeted breed. |
| North Dakota | Cities and counties may restrict breeds | North Dakota has no state law stopping cities and counties from banning or restricting dogs by breed. Whether a breed is restricted depends on where you live — check your city or county ordinances before moving with a pit bull–type or other targeted breed. |
| Ohio | Cities and counties may restrict breeds | Ohio has no state law stopping cities and counties from banning or restricting dogs by breed. Whether a breed is restricted depends on where you live — check your city or county ordinances before moving with a pit bull–type or other targeted breed. |
| Oklahoma | Limited protection | Partly. Local dangerous-dog rules may not be breed-specific. Other breed-based rules are not expressly prohibited, so check your city’s ordinances. |
| Oregon | Cities and counties may restrict breeds | Oregon has no state law stopping cities and counties from banning or restricting dogs by breed. Whether a breed is restricted depends on where you live — check your city or county ordinances before moving with a pit bull–type or other targeted breed. |
| Pennsylvania | State prohibits breed-specific rules | Yes — Pennsylvania bans breed-specific rules. Local dog ordinances may not prohibit or otherwise limit a specific breed. |
| Rhode Island | State prohibits breed-specific rules | Yes — Rhode Island bans breed-specific rules. No city or town may enact a rule specific to any breed of dog or cat. |
| South Carolina | Limited protection | Partly. An animal is not a “dangerous animal” solely because of its breed or species. Other breed-based rules are not expressly prohibited, so check your city’s ordinances. |
| South Dakota | State prohibits breed-specific rules | Yes — South Dakota bans breed-specific rules. No local government may enact or enforce any rule specific to the breed or perceived breed of a dog. |
| Tennessee | Cities and counties may restrict breeds | Tennessee has no state law stopping cities and counties from banning or restricting dogs by breed. Whether a breed is restricted depends on where you live — check your city or county ordinances before moving with a pit bull–type or other targeted breed. |
| Texas | Limited protection | Partly. Counties and cities may add rules for dangerous dogs only if they are not specific to one or more breeds. Other breed-based rules are not expressly prohibited, so check your city’s ordinances. |
| Utah | State prohibits breed-specific rules | Yes — Utah bans breed-specific rules. Municipalities may not adopt or enforce breed-specific rules, and any such rule is void. |
| Vermont | Cities and counties may restrict breeds | Vermont has no state law stopping cities and counties from banning or restricting dogs by breed. Whether a breed is restricted depends on where you live — check your city or county ordinances before moving with a pit bull–type or other targeted breed. |
| Virginia | State prohibits breed-specific rules | Yes — Virginia bans breed-specific rules. No locality may prohibit owning a particular breed, and no dog is dangerous solely because of its breed. |
| Washington | State prohibits breed-specific rules | Yes — Washington bans breed-specific rules. Cities and counties may not ban or restrict a breed unless they meet strict conditions set in the law (including an exemption for dogs that pass a canine good citizen test). |
| West Virginia | Cities and counties may restrict breeds | West Virginia has no state law stopping cities and counties from banning or restricting dogs by breed. Whether a breed is restricted depends on where you live — check your city or county ordinances before moving with a pit bull–type or other targeted breed. |
| Wisconsin | Cities and counties may restrict breeds | Wisconsin has no state law stopping cities and counties from banning or restricting dogs by breed. Whether a breed is restricted depends on where you live — check your city or county ordinances before moving with a pit bull–type or other targeted breed. |
| Wyoming | Cities and counties may restrict breeds | Wyoming has no state law stopping cities and counties from banning or restricting dogs by breed. Whether a breed is restricted depends on where you live — check your city or county ordinances before moving with a pit bull–type or other targeted breed. |