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HomeFood and Agricultural CodeDiv. 14Ch. 9Art. 3§ 31641 Dangerous Dog Licensing Requirements

§ 31641 Dangerous Dog Licensing Requirements

Food and Agricultural Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 31641 Dangerous Dog Licensing Requirements

Key Takeaways

  • •If a dog is considered dangerous, it must have a license and shots.
  • •The license will say the dog is dangerous, either because the owner agrees or a court says so.
  • •The city or county can charge extra money for dangerous dogs to cover the cost of keeping records.

Example

Your dog bites someone, and the court says it's dangerous.

You have to get a special license for your dog that says it's dangerous. You also have to pay extra money for this license.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 31641 Dangerous Dog Licensing Requirements

All potentially dangerous dogs shall be properly licensed and vaccinated. The licensing authority shall include the potentially dangerous designation in the registration records of the dog, either after the owner or keeper of the dog has agreed to the designation or the court or hearing entity has determined the designation applies to the dog. The city or county may charge a potentially dangerous dog fee in addition to the regular licensing fee to provide for the increased costs of maintaining the records of the dog. (Added by Stats. 1989, Ch. 761, Sec. 1.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

potentially dangerous dogslicensed and vaccinatedpotentially dangerous designationpotentially dangerous dog fee

Related Statutes

  • § 31642 Dangerous Dog Confinement Rules
  • § 31643 Dangerous Dog Relocation Notice
  • § 31644 Potentially Dangerous Dog Removal
  • § 31645 Vicious Dog Destruction Rules
  • § 31646 Vicious Dog Ownership Ban

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Food and Agricultural Code. Section 31641.
View Official Source