Arkansas has no statewide ban on pit bulls, but roughly two dozen cities in the state ban or restrict the breed under their own ordinances. The Arkansas cities that ban pit bulls are mostly smaller municipalities, with North Little Rock and Sherwood standing out as the largest. Big population centers like Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Jonesboro, Springdale, and Conway have no breed-specific rules. Pine Bluff and Paragould sit in between: pit bulls are legal there, but only under tight conditions.
Why the Rules Change City by City
Arkansas leaves dog breed regulation entirely to local governments. A 2023 bill (HB 1519) that would have prohibited cities and counties from enacting or enforcing breed-specific laws was defeated in the state House, confirming that municipalities keep full authority over these ordinances. The practical result is that crossing a city limit with a pit bull in your car can move you from legal ownership into a criminal violation without any warning sign at the boundary.
Arkansas Cities With Outright Bans
The following cities prohibit pit bulls citywide. Most include a grandfathering provision for dogs registered before the ordinance passed, but new pit bulls cannot be brought into the city.
North Little Rock
North Little Rock bans the American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Bulldog, and any mix of those breeds.1City of North Little Rock. Banned Breeds in NLR AKC-registered American Staffordshire Terriers or Staffordshire Bull Terriers used as show or performance dogs can qualify for an exemption with documentation. Grandfathered dogs must have been registered within 30 days of the ordinance’s passage, and the owner or handler must be at least 21, provide proof of rabies vaccination and sterilization, keep the dog in a locked enclosure when not on a leash of six feet or less, and display a “Beware of Dog” sign.
Batesville
Batesville uses the same breed definitions as North Little Rock. Dogs licensed before the ordinance took effect can stay if the owner provides proof of rabies vaccination, sterilization, and liability insurance of at least $100,000 naming the City of Batesville as an interested party. The dog must be kept in a securely locked enclosure, and the owner must post a “Beware of Dog” sign.2City of Batesville. Batesville Code of Ordinances – Title 6 Animals and Fowl
Sherwood
Sherwood bans keeping, harboring, owning, selling, or transporting pit bulls within city limits. Dogs living in areas later annexed into Sherwood get a 90-day grace period to either leave the city or be registered, and aggressive pit bulls do not qualify for registration at all. Sherwood has also confirmed that lab testing can be used to determine breed, meaning a dog that doesn’t obviously look like a pit bull can still be seized if DNA results come back positive.
Arkadelphia
Arkadelphia bans pit bulls with exceptions for AKC- or UKC-registered show dogs and dogs registered under the city’s grandfathering provisions. The ban is codified in Section 6.16 of the city’s municipal code.
Other Cities That Ban Pit Bulls
Based on available municipal records, the following Arkansas cities also ban pit bulls, though detailed ordinance text is not always publicly accessible online:
- Beebe classifies pit bulls as vicious animals and prohibits them within city limits.
- Camden includes pit bulls in its vicious dog definition and prohibits them.
- Caraway classifies pit bulls as vicious animals under its animal control code.
- Carlisle bans pit bull breeds entirely, including dogs that substantially conform to the breed standard.
- Dardanelle bans American Pit Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, American Bulldogs, and any dog a licensed veterinarian identifies as a pit bull.
- De Queen prohibits keeping any breed identified as “pit bull” within city limits.
- Dover enacted a permanent ban with registration and compliance requirements for existing dogs.
- Gassville prohibits owning or keeping a pit bull terrier within municipal limits.
- Hazen bans pit bulls and classifies them alongside vicious dogs.3City of Hazen. City of Hazen – Pit Bulls and Vicious Dogs
- Mayflower bans pit bulls with a grandfathering provision. Violations lead to seizure, a $100 reclaim fee, and a mandatory affidavit to move the dog out of city limits. A second offense can lead to the dog being destroyed.4City of Mayflower. Chapter 6.16 – Banning of Pitbulls
Lake City and Lockesburg are also commonly listed as having pit bull bans, though their ordinance text is not readily available online. Contact the city clerk or animal control office directly to confirm current rules.
Cities That Allow Pit Bulls Under Restrictions
Some Arkansas cities allow pit bulls but impose conditions that look a lot like what banned cities require of grandfathered dogs.
Pine Bluff
Pine Bluff requires owners to register the dog, provide proof of rabies vaccination and sterilization, be at least 21, and carry liability insurance of at least $100,000. Exceptions exist for pit bulls owned by law enforcement agencies or used as service animals. Dogs must be confined when on the owner’s property and leashed and muzzled when off it.
Paragould
Paragould classifies pit bulls as dangerous animals. Ownership is legal but requires secure indoor confinement or a locked pen, mandatory muzzling when the dog is outside the enclosure, and public liability insurance of at least $100,000 for bodily injury or property damage. Owners must be able to show proof of insurance at all times.5Paragould, Arkansas. Paragould Code of Ordinances Chapter 6 – Animals
Garland County
Garland County designates pit bulls as a “high risk breed” and prohibits owners from letting them go unconfined on other people’s property or on public rights-of-way. The county regulates where the dog can be rather than whether you can own one.
Cities That Repealed Their Bans
Two Arkansas cities that previously banned pit bulls have moved away from breed-specific rules. Older online listings sometimes still show these bans as active.
Maumelle previously banned American Pit Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, and American Bulldogs. The city council passed Ordinance 1022 repealing the ban on all four breeds, and a later council vote declined to reinstate it. Pit bulls are now legal in Maumelle, though general dangerous-dog rules still apply to any dog that behaves aggressively.
Prescott repealed its 2009 pit bull ordinance and now regulates all dogs under a broader vicious animal ordinance. Legally registered service animals are exempt from that ordinance.
What Happens If You Violate a Ban
The dog itself is usually the first thing at risk. Animal control can seize a pit bull found in a city that prohibits the breed, and if the owner doesn’t reclaim it within a short window (often three business days), the city can euthanize the animal. Mayflower’s ordinance requires a $100 reclaim fee and an affidavit promising to move the dog out of city limits immediately. If the same dog is found in Mayflower a second time, the court can order it destroyed.4City of Mayflower. Chapter 6.16 – Banning of Pitbulls
Owners also face criminal misdemeanor charges in most jurisdictions, with fines that vary by city.
How Arkansas Cities Define Pit Bull
“Pit bull” is not a single recognized breed, and each city defines the term differently. Most ordinances cover at least the American Pit Bull Terrier, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and the American Staffordshire Terrier. Some, including North Little Rock and Dardanelle, add the American Bulldog.1City of North Little Rock. Banned Breeds in NLR
Nearly every ordinance also sweeps in mixed-breed dogs. Paragould includes any dog with “the appearance and characteristics of being predominately” one of the listed breeds.5Paragould, Arkansas. Paragould Code of Ordinances Chapter 6 – Animals Dardanelle covers any dog “commonly referred to as ‘pit bull’ and commonly recognizable and identifiable as such” by a licensed veterinarian. Hazen goes further, letting its animal control officer deem any dog vicious regardless of breed.3City of Hazen. City of Hazen – Pit Bulls and Vicious Dogs
A mixed-breed dog with a blocky head and muscular build can be classified as a pit bull under local law even if a DNA test shows minimal pit bull ancestry. If you own a dog that could plausibly be identified as a pit bull mix, treat any local ban as potentially applying and verify with animal control before moving.
Service Animals and Federal Protections
Federal law overrides local pit bull bans in two situations: service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act and assistance animals in housing under the Fair Housing Act.
Under the ADA, cities that ban specific breeds must make an exception for service animals of a prohibited breed unless the individual dog poses a direct threat based on its actual behavior or history. A city cannot exclude a service animal simply because it is a pit bull or pit bull mix, and the direct-threat determination has to be made case by case.6ADA.gov. Frequently Asked Questions about Service Animals and the ADA
In housing, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has stated that breed and size restrictions in pet policies do not apply to assistance animals, which include both trained service animals and support animals for people with disabilities. Landlords and public housing agencies cannot charge pet deposits or impose breed bans on these animals, though standard lease provisions about health, safety, and sanitary conditions still apply.7HUD Exchange. Can a Public Housing Agency Restrict the Breed or Size of an Assistance Animal
Insurance for Pit Bull Owners
Even in cities that allow pit bulls, homeowners or renters insurance can be difficult to find. Many insurance companies keep internal breed exclusion lists and will either deny coverage, exclude dog-bite liability from the policy, or charge higher premiums for pit bull owners. Some major insurers, including State Farm, do not discriminate by breed, but availability varies. If your city requires $100,000 in liability insurance as a condition of ownership, as Batesville, Pine Bluff, and Paragould do, you may need to shop around or buy a separate animal liability policy. Ask your insurer whether your dog’s breed affects coverage before assuming your existing policy is enough.
How to Verify Your City’s Rules
Ordinances change, and online databases sometimes lag by months or years. Maumelle’s ban still appears on some legal research sites despite being repealed. The most reliable way to confirm current rules is to contact your city clerk’s office or animal control department directly. Many cities post their municipal code online through platforms like Municode, but not every city keeps those pages current.
If you’re planning a move with a pit bull or pit bull mix, verify the rules in the destination city before signing a lease or closing on a house. Ask animal control two specific questions: whether the city has any breed-specific ordinance, and how the city defines “pit bull,” since the definition varies. Get the answer in writing if you can. For complicated situations involving service animals, housing disputes, or a dog that has already been seized, a local attorney familiar with animal law can help you work through the overlap between municipal ordinances and federal protections.