Dangerous Dog Declaration in Maryland: What the Law Requires and How to Respond
July 15, 2026
A dangerous dog declaration in Maryland is not just a label — it carries real legal consequences for you as a dog owner, from mandatory containment requirements to potential criminal charges. Whether your dog has been involved in an incident or a neighbor has filed a complaint against you, understanding exactly how Maryland law works is the first step toward protecting both your dog and yourself.
Maryland’s dangerous dog statute, MD Code, Criminal Law § 10-619, establishes a two-tier classification system — “potentially dangerous” and “dangerous” — that shapes every stage of the process. This guide walks you through each stage so you know what to expect and what your options are.
What Makes a Dog “Dangerous” Under Maryland Law
Under MD Code, Criminal Law § 10-619, a dangerous dog is defined as one that, without provocation, has killed or inflicted severe injury on a person, or is a potentially dangerous dog that bites a person, kills or inflicts severe injury on a domestic animal when not on its owner’s real property, or attacks without provocation.
Maryland law states that a “dangerous dog” is one that has either killed or inflicted a severe injury on an individual without any outside provocation. A “severe injury” consists of broken bones or lacerations that are disfiguring in nature and require multiple sutures and/or cosmetic surgery. This is a meaningful legal threshold — not every bite automatically triggers a dangerous dog designation.
Maryland also uses a stepping-stone classification. After the first qualifying incident, animal control can classify the dog as potentially dangerous. Once it carries that classification, animal control can classify the dog as dangerous if there is another incident. This two-step pathway matters because it affects both the severity of the consequences and your ability to contest the designation at each stage.
Key Insight: Maryland law does not target specific breeds. There is no official list of “dangerous” dog breeds under Maryland law. The dangerous dog classification is based entirely on a dog’s individual conduct, not its breed or appearance.
This section of Maryland law does not apply to a dog owned by and working for a governmental or law enforcement unit. If your dog works in law enforcement, it falls outside the scope of § 10-619 entirely.
It is also worth noting that the common area of a homeowner’s association, condominium, or cooperative is not considered the owner’s premises under Maryland law. An incident in a shared apartment hallway or condo courtyard would be treated as occurring off your property, which can affect how the law applies to your situation. You can also read about how Virginia handles dangerous dog declarations for a comparison with a neighboring state.
Who Can File a Dangerous Dog Complaint in Maryland
In Maryland, dangerous dog complaints are handled at the county or municipal level, not by a single statewide agency. An appropriate unit of a county or municipal corporation may determine that a dog is potentially dangerous based on reported incidents. This means the specific agency you deal with — and the exact procedures you follow — will depend on where you live.
Generally, any person who has witnessed or been harmed by a dog incident can initiate a complaint with their local animal control authority. An Affidavit of Complaint must contain a written statement of the writer’s personal experiences with an animal or animal owner, including events witnessed with the eyes or ears of the writer. Hearsay or secondhand accounts are typically not sufficient to complete a valid complaint.
In Baltimore County, for example, Baltimore County Animal Services reviews the Affidavit of Complaint to determine whether violations have occurred and what civil penalties or other remedies are appropriate, and may issue a citation for each violation at its sole discretion.
- Bite victims or their legal guardians
- Owners of domestic animals that were attacked
- Witnesses to an unprovoked attack
- Neighbors who have observed threatening behavior toward people or animals
For incidents involving children, the guardian or parent of a child under 18 years of age will need to have the child provide their account of the incident, and must be prepared to bring the child or other witnesses to testify at a hearing if the defendant appeals the violation.
How the Dangerous Dog Declaration Process Works in Maryland
The process begins when a complaint is filed with your county’s animal control authority. From there, animal control investigates the incident, reviews evidence, and decides whether to pursue a potentially dangerous or dangerous dog designation. The exact timeline varies by county, but the general structure follows a consistent pattern across Maryland.
In Prince George’s County, both the complainant and the defendant present evidence, witnesses, and testimony to support their stance. The Animal Control Commissioners weigh the facts presented and make a ruling based on applicable codes and knowledge. Ruling decisions are not made at the time of the hearing and are mailed out within 21 days of the hearing date.
Evidence must be submitted no later than seven business days before the scheduled hearing via mail or email to the relevant Animal Control Commission. Gathering your documentation early — veterinary records, training certificates, witness statements — is something you should do as soon as you learn a complaint has been filed.
Pro Tip: If you cannot attend a scheduled hearing in Anne Arundel County, a request to reschedule must be made to Animal Services at least five days before the hearing, and each party may request one rescheduling. Missing the hearing without notice can result in the case being forwarded to the District Court of Maryland.
In Montgomery County, a written Finding of Fact and Order is prepared and reviewed by the County Attorney’s office for proper form and legality. Once approved, usually within 45 days, both parties are served copies of the order. This written order is the formal dangerous dog declaration, and it is the document that triggers all subsequent legal obligations.
For context on how other states structure similar processes, see our guides on the dangerous dog declaration process in Pennsylvania and the dangerous dog declaration process in Ohio.
Your Rights as a Dog Owner During the Process in Maryland
Maryland law gives you meaningful procedural rights during the dangerous dog declaration process. You have the right to appear at a hearing, present evidence, and challenge the complaint before any formal designation is made. Understanding these rights — and exercising them on time — can make a significant difference in the outcome.
If your dog is impounded in connection with a dangerous dog investigation, the owner shall be notified within 48 hours of the impoundment of a right to a preliminary hearing. The preliminary hearing shall be scheduled within 72 hours of a written request by the owner.
You also have the right to present your own evidence at the hearing. Notarized statements from witnesses who are unable to attend the hearing to testify on your behalf are generally accepted in lieu of live testimony. Collect these statements as early as possible, since submission deadlines apply.
| Owner Right | What It Means in Practice |
|---|---|
| Notice of impoundment | You must be notified within 48 hours if your dog is impounded |
| Preliminary hearing | You can request a hearing within 72 hours of written request after impoundment |
| Evidence submission | You may submit documents, photos, veterinary records, and witness statements |
| Rescheduling | One rescheduling request is typically permitted with advance notice |
| Appeal of the order | You may appeal a designation to the relevant board or circuit court |
There are important legal exceptions where a dog owner might not be held responsible, including if the person bitten was trespassing at the time of the attack. Provocation is another recognized defense. If the incident was triggered by someone provoking or tormenting your dog, that context belongs in your evidence file. See also how New York approaches owner rights in similar proceedings.
What Happens After a Dog Is Declared Dangerous in Maryland
Once a dog receives a formal dangerous dog designation in Maryland, you face a specific set of ongoing legal obligations. Compliance is not optional — violations carry criminal penalties. Owners of dangerous dogs are required to follow a number of rules, including keeping the dog securely confined when it is on their property, and they may only take it off of their property if it is muzzled and restrained.
It is illegal for the owner of a dangerous dog to leave the dog unattended on their property unless the dog is confined indoors or in a securely locked pen or other structure to restrict the dog. A standard fence or tie-out does not meet this requirement.
In Montgomery County, animals deemed dangerous must be kept confined in a secure enclosure to prevent direct contact with humans or other animals, and must be leashed and muzzled, and under the control of a person at least 18 years old who is physically able to restrain the animal any time it is removed from the owner’s property.
There is also a notification obligation if you transfer ownership of your dog. An owner of a dangerous dog or potentially dangerous dog who sells or gives the dog to another shall notify in writing the authority that made the determination. Transferring a declared dangerous dog without providing that notice is itself a violation of Maryland law.
Important Note: Some counties, such as Anne Arundel, go a step further: the Department shall order the humane euthanasia of an animal determined to be vicious. No person may keep an animal that has been designated as vicious, and a vicious animal will be euthanized. A “vicious” designation is a separate and more serious classification than “dangerous” under county-level codes.
You can compare Maryland’s post-declaration requirements with those in other states, including the dangerous dog declaration process in Georgia and the dangerous dog declaration process in Texas.
How to Contest a Dangerous Dog Declaration in Maryland
If your dog has been declared dangerous or potentially dangerous, you have the right to contest that determination. The appeal process varies by county, but Maryland law consistently provides at least one formal avenue for challenging the designation before it becomes final.
In Anne Arundel County, an owner of an animal designated as potentially dangerous, dangerous, or vicious may appeal that order to the Commission within 10 days of receipt of the order by filing a written request for appeal with the Department. Missing that 10-day window typically means the designation stands.
In Montgomery County, appeals are made to the Circuit Court for Montgomery County. Parties have 5 days to file an appeal from the date of the issued order, or 1 year from the date of the incident for complaints. The shorter deadline applies to the order itself, so acting quickly after receiving the written Finding of Fact and Order is important.
In Anne Arundel County, Animal Services citations may be appealed, resulting in a hearing before the Animal Matters Commission or the District Court of Maryland, within 15 days after receiving the citation.
When preparing your appeal, consider gathering the following:
- Veterinary records documenting your dog’s health history and temperament assessments
- Training certificates from obedience or behavioral programs
- Notarized witness statements from neighbors, trainers, or others familiar with your dog
- Photographs or video footage relevant to the incident
- Documentation of any provocation or trespassing involved in the triggering incident
- Evidence that your dog was on your property at the time of the alleged incident
Both parties must appear for the hearing before the Animal Matters Commission. If the complainant does not appear for the hearing, the case is dismissed. This means that if you request a hearing and the person who filed against you fails to appear, the complaint may not move forward. For additional comparison, see how Minnesota handles dangerous dog appeals and the dangerous dog declaration process in Washington state.
Penalties for Violating Dangerous Dog Requirements in Maryland
Failing to comply with Maryland’s dangerous dog requirements after a formal declaration is not a minor infraction. The state statute sets criminal penalties, and individual counties layer additional fines on top of the state baseline.
A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, is subject to a fine not exceeding $2,500. This applies to violations of the core containment and restraint obligations under MD Code, Criminal Law § 10-619.
If the dog injures or kills a person while in a public place, the owner faces additional charges. Depending on the severity of the criminal charge and upon a guilty verdict, the owner faces possible imprisonment or fines.
At the county level, penalties can compound quickly. In Montgomery County, the penalty for failing to keep a dangerous animal confined is $500 to $2,500 and/or impoundment of the animal. In addition, failure to comply with an order of the Board is a class A violation of the Montgomery County Code, which carries a $500 fine for the first offense and a $750 fine for subsequent offenses.
| Violation Type | Potential Penalty |
|---|---|
| Violating state dangerous dog statute (§ 10-619) | Misdemeanor; fine up to $2,500 |
| Failing to confine dangerous animal (Montgomery County) | $500–$2,500 fine and/or impoundment |
| Violating a Board order (Montgomery County) | $500 first offense; $750 subsequent offenses |
| Dog injures or kills a person in public | Additional criminal charges; possible imprisonment |
| Transferring dog without notifying authorities | Violation of § 10-619; misdemeanor exposure |
Maryland’s dog-injury law creates a rebuttable presumption that, if a dog kills or injures someone, the owner knew in advance about their pet’s vicious or dangerous propensity. Owners are therefore strictly liable for the victim’s damages unless they can prove either that their dog did not have vicious or dangerous tendencies, or that there was no way they could have known about them. This civil liability exposure exists independently of any criminal penalties under the dangerous dog statute.
If your dog has already been declared dangerous, the most effective way to avoid these penalties is strict, documented compliance with every condition of the declaration. Keep records of your containment setup, leash and muzzle use, and any training your dog undergoes after the designation. Those records can matter in any future proceedings.
For a broader look at how dangerous dog laws compare across the country, explore our guides on the dangerous dog declaration process in Indiana, the dangerous dog declaration process in California, the dangerous dog declaration process in Arizona, and the dangerous dog declaration process in Missouri. You may also want to review our overview of the most dangerous dog breeds and what the research actually shows about breed and behavior.