At a Glance
- Case Type
- Regulatory Action
- Jurisdiction
- Prince George's County, Maryland
- Date
- 2025-11-18
- Status
- Resolved
- Amount
- $3M (annual enforcement cost)
Prince George's County, Maryland, formally ended its nearly 30-year breed-specific ban on pit bull-type dogs on Nov. 18, 2025, when the county council voted 7-0 to repeal the ordinance, according to the Washington Post [1]. The ban was enacted in 1996 and took effect in 1997. Prince George's County was the only jurisdiction in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area to maintain such a prohibition. Council Bill CB-097-2025, sponsored by Council Chair Edward Burroughs III, represented years of collaboration among local leaders, animal advocates, and residents.
The council's repeal rested in large part on the ordinance's documented failure to suppress pit bull ownership in the county. Council member Sydney Harrison stated that the county was spending approximately $3 million a year to enforce the ban, yet between 20,000 and 30,000 pit bulls lived in the county regardless. [2] Burroughs framed the fiscal math plainly: "Right now, there are approximately 30,000 pit bulls living in Prince George's County today," he said. "The ban that we're spending $3 million a year to enforce, the ban that we've spent $100 million to enforce is not working." [3] The enforcement problems had been identified well before 2025. In 2003, Prince George's County authorized a Vicious Animal Task Force to examine the ban's results, and it found the ban costly, resource-straining, and ineffective, while diverting attention from genuinely dangerous animals. [4] That task force advised repealing the ban. [4]
CB-097-2025 replaces breed identity as the basis for animal control regulation with a behavior-based framework. The new legislation focuses on increasing accountability, raising civil penalties, and expanding the criteria for classifying a dog as dangerous, shifting the focus from breed to behavior, while strengthening leash-law requirements. [3] Individuals who own or wish to adopt pit bull-type terriers must comply with specific county requirements designed to promote responsible pet ownership and public safety, including county registration and obtaining the appropriate license and permit, as well as completing mandatory training. [5] Civil penalties for dangerous-dog violations scale from $500 for a first offense to $1,500 for a second and $3,000 for a third. [6] The bill became law on Dec. 18, 2025. [4]
The vote drew public opposition. The decision was met with reservations from residents who cited concerns about pit bull behavior and prior attacks in the county. [6] The council ultimately voted 7-0, with four council members leaving the room when it came time to vote. [2] The shelter consequences of the prior ordinance were also placed on the record. The county animal shelter was not permitted to allow Prince George's residents to adopt pit bulls, and more than 1,100 pit bulls were euthanized in 2023 alone, with 742 euthanized the following year. [6] The new bill introduces a pilot program allowing previously banned pit bull-type dogs to be adopted or fostered, provided participants meet strict safety requirements. [3]
References
[1] The Washington Post. (2025, November 23). Pit bulls allowed in Prince George's County after 28-year ban lifted. https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/11/23/pitt-bulls-prince-georges-ban/
[2] Maryland Matters. (2025, November 18). Prince George's County Council passes bill ending pit bull ban, wraps up session. https://marylandmatters.org/2025/11/18/prince-georges-county-council-passes-bill-ending-pit-bull-ban-wraps-up-session/
[3] WUSA9. (2025, November 18). Pit bull ban lifted in Prince George's County after 27 years. https://www.wusa9.com/article/life/animals/pit-bull-ban-lifted-prince-georges-county/65-fa2e2d0e-7396-44a2-925b-fc775930b40e
[4] The Daily Record. (2026, February 2). Almost 30 years later PG County finally ends pit bull ban. https://thedailyrecord.com/2026/02/02/almost-30-years-later-prince-georges-county-finally-ends-pit-bull-ban/
[5] Prince George's County, Maryland (official government release). Prince George's County allows legal ownership and adoption of pit bull-type terriers under new law. https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/departments-offices/news-events/news/prince-georges-county-allows-legal-ownership-and-adoption-pit-bull-type-terriers-under-new-law
[6] NBC Washington. (2025, November 19). Pit bull ban to end in Prince George's County, with new permit plan in place. https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/prince-georges-county/pit-bull-ban-to-end-in-prince-georges-county-with-new-permit-plan-in-place/4017614/