Pasadena Breed Restrictions Rules (2026): What You Need to Know

Pasadena Municipal Code Title 6 (Animals) governs the keeping of dogs within city limits, but it does not and cannot contain any breed-specific provisions. California Food and Agricultural Code Section 31683, enacted in 2012, expressly prohibits any city, county, or other local government entity in California from enacting or enforcing any ordinance, rule, regulation, or policy that regulates a dog based solely on the dog's breed or perceived breed. This statewide preemption makes all breed-specific legislation (BSL) — including pit bull bans, mandatory breed registration, breed-based insurance requirements, and breed-restricted-area ordinances — unenforceable in California, including in Pasadena.

Instead of breed-based restrictions, Pasadena manages dangerous dogs through an individual behavior-based system administered by the Pasadena Humane Society and the City's Animal Services function. A dog of any breed that bites a person or another animal, or that exhibits threatening or aggressive behavior, may be declared a "potentially dangerous dog" or a "vicious dog" by an Animal Control Officer following investigation. A potentially dangerous dog designation imposes additional requirements on the owner, including secure confinement, leash and muzzle requirements when off-property, and enhanced liability insurance. A vicious dog designation may result in the dog's removal from the owner and potential euthanasia following an administrative hearing. The system is applied consistently regardless of breed. Contact the Pasadena Humane Society at (626) 792-7151 for dog-related complaints or dangerous dog reports.