Dangerous Dog Breeds Banned in Maryland: What the Law Says Now
November 12, 2026
Dangerous dog breeds banned in Maryland is a shorter list than most people expect. As of 2026, the state has no statewide breed ban, and the one county that long prohibited pit bull-type dogs repealed its ban in November 2025. What you can and cannot do with your dog now depends mostly on how the dog behaves, plus any rules set by your landlord, HOA or insurer.
This article walks through the state rules, the local history, the legal definition of a dangerous dog, and the private restrictions that can still limit your choices. You will also find practical steps if you are moving to Maryland with a breed that some housing providers restrict.
The details below come from court records, county reporting and legal summaries. Local ordinances can change, so confirm anything specific with your county animal control office before you act.
Are Dangerous Dog Breeds Banned in Maryland?
No breed is banned across Maryland. There is no official list of “dangerous” dog breeds under Maryland law. The state treats dogs as individuals and looks at what a specific dog has done.
The picture was different for years in one county. Prince George’s County prohibited pit bull-type dogs until it repealed that rule, and reporting from The Baltimore Banner noted that Maryland will no longer have any breed-specific bans once the bill takes effect. That makes Maryland one of the states where you will not face a government breed ban, though leash and pet rules still vary by jurisdiction.
Key Insight: “Not banned” does not mean “unregulated.” Every Maryland dog owner is still subject to dangerous-dog procedures, leash laws and liability rules, whatever the breed.
Does Maryland Have a Statewide Dog Breed Ban?
No. Maryland does not have a statewide ban on any specific breed. Owning a pit bull, Rottweiler, Doberman or any other breed is legal at the state level.
The state’s main dangerous-dog framework is behavior-based. It sits in Maryland Code, Criminal Law § 10-619, and the statute does not list specific breeds.
One area people confuse with breed bans is the exotic animal statute. Maryland bans private ownership of a specific list of animals under Criminal Law § 10-621. That list includes wild dogs and wolf-dog hybrids, which is a restriction on certain animals, not on domestic dog breeds.
Can Cities and Counties in Maryland Ban Dog Breeds?
Yes, historically they could, and Prince George’s County did. Maryland has no statewide ban, but local jurisdictions have been free to adopt their own rules. That local control is why the state’s breed rules were never uniform.
The state legislature has also shown how it prefers to handle breed questions. After the 2012 court ruling described later in this article, lawmakers passed a breed-neutral standard instead of leaning on breed labels.
In practice, local governments now focus on leash rules, dangerous-dog penalties and registration. Check your county code, because those rules differ across Maryland’s 23 counties and Baltimore City.
Cities and Counties in Maryland With Breed Bans or Restrictions
As of the 2026 research I found, no Maryland county or city enforces a breed ban. The only major local ban was in Prince George’s County, which passed CB-97 to end it.
Here is how the local picture looks:
| Jurisdiction | Breed Ban Status | What Applies Instead |
|---|---|---|
| Prince George’s County | Repealed (CB-97) | Behavior-based dangerous-dog rules, leash requirements, pilot permit program |
| Baltimore City | No breed ban | Leash limit of 6 feet in public areas |
| Other Maryland counties | No known breed ban | County dangerous-dog ordinances and state law |
For Prince George’s County, the County Council voted to pass CB-97 on November 18, 2025, and the new rules took effect on February 2, 2026. Baltimore City does not prohibit specific breeds. Its leash rule requires dogs to be on a leash no longer than 6 feet in public areas.
Older web articles still say pit bulls are prohibited in Prince George’s County. Those pages predate the repeal, so check the date before you rely on them.
Dog Breeds Most Often Banned or Restricted in Maryland
The breeds most often named in Maryland discussions are pit bull-type dogs. The Prince George’s County ban targeted Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, American Pit Bull Terriers, and any dog that merely appeared to be predominantly one of these breeds.
Today, the breeds you are more likely to see restricted are on private lists, not government ones. Rental property managers commonly name Pit Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Terriers, Rottweilers and Dobermans, along with Presa Canarios, Chow Chows, Akitas, Mastiffs, Cane Corsos and wolf hybrids.
These lists belong to landlords and insurers, not to the state. They vary from one property to the next, so always read your specific lease or policy.
Dog Breed Bans vs. Breed Restrictions in Maryland
A breed ban makes ownership illegal. A breed restriction allows ownership but adds conditions, such as extra insurance, a muzzle, a pen requirement or a permit. Maryland no longer has government-imposed bans, but restrictions in other forms still exist.
| Feature | Breed Ban | Breed Restriction |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | Illegal | Legal with conditions |
| Who sets it | Government | Government, landlord, HOA or insurer |
| Maryland status | None active as of 2026 | Private rules still common |
| Based on | Breed or appearance | Breed, size or behavior |
Prince George’s County’s new pilot program shows the restriction model. Residents fostering or adopting a previously banned breed go through a pilot program requiring a $25 permit and mandatory training.
How Maryland Defines a Dangerous Dog (Behavior, Not Breed)
Maryland defines a dangerous dog by what the dog does. The legal definitions of “dangerous” and “potentially dangerous” dogs appear in Maryland Code, Criminal Law § 10-619. Breed does not factor into the definition.
A dog is dangerous under the statute if it has killed or severely injured a person without provocation, or was previously classified as “potentially dangerous” and then attacked or injured again.
Once a dog is declared dangerous, the owner faces strict control rules. These include keeping the dog in a secure, locked enclosure, muzzling and leashing it in public, and notifying animal control if the dog is sold, relocated or involved in another attack.
Local ordinances add details. For example, Frederick County requires a dangerous dog removed from the owner’s property for medical care to be caged or controlled by a responsible adult, muzzled, and restrained with a leash no longer than four feet. Related reading on types of pit bull dog breeds explains why appearance is such an unreliable guide to behavior.
Pro Tip: Keep vaccination records, training certificates and vet notes in one folder. If your dog is ever investigated, documented good behavior and care can help your case.
How Breed Bans in Maryland Treat Mixed-Breed Dogs
With no active ban, mixed-breed dogs face no breed-based prohibition in Maryland. The old Prince George’s rule is still the best example of how mixes were treated, and why that approach drew so much criticism.
That law reached beyond purebreds. It covered any mixed-breed dog with a similar appearance to the named breeds, which meant ownership depended on a visual judgment. Because many dogs are mixed-breed, shelters and animal control agencies long struggled to decide whether a dog met the legal definition of a “pit bull.”
Under CB-97, that guessing game ends. The county shifted toward behavior-based assessments rather than breed-based determinations. If you own a mix that looks like a restricted breed, your risk now comes mainly from private rules, not county enforcement.
Exemptions and Grandfathered Dogs Under Maryland Breed Rules
Because the county ban is gone, you no longer need grandfathered status to keep a pit bull-type dog in Prince George’s County. The old rules did have a grandfather clause, which matters if you have older paperwork or are reading older sources.
Under the former law, pit bulls born before February 3, 1997 required written proof of ownership and were subject to strict restraint rules. One legal summary lists a slightly different cutoff date of February 7, 1997, so treat exact dates in older documents with caution.
Important Note: Sources disagree on the exact grandfather cutoff date under the repealed Prince George’s law. Since the ban no longer applies, this mostly matters for historical records.
Service animals sit in a separate category. Reporting on rental rules notes that guide dogs are not considered pets, which is why landlords generally cannot apply pet breed bans to them.
Breed Restrictions by Landlords, HOAs, Insurers and Military Housing in Maryland
Private rules are where breed restrictions still bite. The repeal did not change them. HOAs and private landlords can still set their own breed or size restrictions, so a repealed county law does not override a lease.
Landlords keep wide discretion. Maryland has made strides in restricting breed profiling by insurance companies, but landlords still can prohibit types of dogs or pets in general.
Insurance is the other pressure point. Coverage can depend on whether a dog has been designated dangerous, and related guidance notes that owners of dangerous dogs are frequently expected to carry liability insurance of at least $100,000. Ask your insurer in writing whether they exclude any breeds before you buy or renew.
Military housing on base is governed by each installation’s own pet policy, which often names restricted breeds. I did not find a Maryland-specific base policy in my research, so request the current pet addendum from your housing office. Our guide to banned dog breeds covers how restrictions work across different places.
- Read the pet clause and any breed list in your lease before signing.
- Ask HOAs for their written covenants, not a verbal summary.
- Request breed exclusions from insurers in writing.
- Keep copies of every approval you receive.
Moving to Maryland With a Restricted Dog Breed
Moving with a pit bull-type dog, Rottweiler or similar breed is far easier in Maryland than it was a few years ago. You will not run into a county ban, but you should plan around housing and insurance.
- Confirm your county’s current dog license, vaccination and leash rules with the local animal control office.
- Collect your dog’s vet records, training certificates and proof of rabies vaccination.
- Ask potential landlords or HOAs about breed rules before you apply, not after.
- Get written quotes from insurers who do not exclude your breed.
- In Prince George’s County, ask about the pilot permit program if your dog is a previously banned type.
If you are still choosing a dog, browsing breeds such as herding dog breeds or low-shedding dog breeds can help you weigh temperament and housing fit alongside legal rules.
Can You Challenge a Local Breed Ban in Maryland?
Yes, and challenges have shaped the state’s rules. A federal lawsuit helped push Prince George’s County toward repeal. The county stopped enforcing the law in March 2023 because of a federal lawsuit.
That case came from Laurel, where, according to Hepper’s summary of WUSA9 reporting, two emotional support dogs were taken away from a family. Advocates also argued that breed identification itself was arbitrary.
If you ever face a local breed rule, these are the usual routes:
- Ask your county council member to review the ordinance.
- Appeal any dangerous-dog designation through the process your county sets out.
- Consult a Maryland attorney who handles animal law before a hearing.
Since no breed ban is active as of 2026, your most likely dispute is over a behavior-based designation, where evidence of your dog’s actual conduct matters most.
Recent Changes to Dog Breed Ban Laws in Maryland
Maryland’s recent history has two major turning points: the 2012 court ruling and 2014 reversal, and the 2025 Prince George’s repeal.
In April 2012, the Court of Appeals ruled 4-3 in Tracey v. Solesky that pit bulls were “inherently dangerous,” making anyone who knew a dog was a pit bull strictly liable for an attack. The court later narrowed this. On August 21, 2012, it limited the ruling to pit bulls and removed the terms cross-bred and pit bull mix.
The legislature then stepped in. On April 8, 2014, Governor Martin O’Malley signed Senate Bill 247, abrogating the Tracey v. Solesky decision. The resulting law, Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 3-1901.2, means pit bulls are no longer deemed inherently dangerous.
The most recent change is the county repeal. On November 18, 2025, Prince George’s County voted unanimously to reverse its nearly 30-year pit bull ban. Penalties for any dog legally deemed dangerous, regardless of breed, now range from $500 to $3,000. All dogs must now be leashed, and retractable leashes no longer count as adequate restraint.
Officials cited cost as one reason. Councilmember Sydney Harrison noted the county spent about $3 million annually trying to enforce the ban. For more on how local rules compare, see our overview of banned dog breeds and the vicious animal laws in Maryland.
Important Note: This article is educational information, not legal advice. Maryland counties update their animal ordinances, so confirm current rules with your local animal control office or a licensed Maryland attorney.
The short version for you: Maryland has no statewide breed ban, the county ban is repealed, and behavior is what the law judges. Your biggest hurdles are likely a lease, HOA covenant or insurance policy, so check those first.