Does Michigan Have Any Breed-Specific Laws (Pit Bulls, Rottweilers)?

Breed-specific laws are a polarizing topic in Michigan. Here’s the legal reality: state law is breed-neutral, but local rules and insurance policies are not.

A pit bull terrier in a Michigan dog bite case

The Short Answer

Michigan state law does NOT have breed-specific restrictions. MCL 287.351 applies identically to a pit bull bite and a Golden Retriever bite. Some Michigan municipalities have or have had breed-specific ordinances (Detroit had one until recent years), but those affect animal control rules — not your civil claim. Insurance companies often maintain breed exclusion lists, but those affect coverage, not your right to recover.

Video coming soon — Solomon Radner answers this question

The Detailed Answer

Breed-specific legislation (BSL) is one of the most debated areas of dog policy in the country. Michigan has generally moved away from BSL at the state level — but breed still matters in several practical ways for dog bite victims. Understanding the distinction between state law, local ordinances, and insurance coverage helps you understand what your specific case involves.

Michigan state law is breed-neutral

MCL 287.351 says nothing about breed. The statute applies to “every person who owns a dog,” regardless of what kind of dog. The owner of a Chihuahua that bites is just as strictly liable as the owner of a Mastiff. The amount of damage caused by the bite — not the breed — determines case value.

Similarly, Michigan’s dangerous dog statute (MCL 287.321 et seq.) defines “dangerous” and “vicious” based on behavior, not breed. See our dangerous dog laws guide.

Local ordinances vary

Some Michigan municipalities have had (or still have) breed-specific rules at the local level. These usually involve:

Mandatory registration of certain breeds
Containment requirements (specific fencing, leashing)
Liability insurance minimums
Outright bans in extreme cases

These local ordinances can ADD to your case in two ways: (1) breach of a containment ordinance is per se negligence in addition to strict liability, and (2) keeping a banned breed itself can be evidence of the owner’s awareness of risk.

Detroit had a pit bull ordinance for many years that was repealed. Check current local rules in your specific city or county.

Insurance company breed exclusions

This is where breed REALLY matters — but not for your right to recover, only for the insurance coverage available. Many homeowner’s insurance policies have breed exclusion lists. Commonly excluded breeds include:

Pit bull / American Staffordshire Terrier
Rottweiler
Doberman Pinscher
German Shepherd (some carriers)
Akita
Chow Chow
Mixed breeds containing any of the above

If the dog’s breed was excluded from coverage, the dog owner is still personally liable under MCL 287.351 — but you may need to pursue them directly rather than through insurance. See our guide on uninsured dog owners for what happens next.

Pit bull bites specifically

Pit bull bites generate disproportionate media attention and disproportionately serious injuries — but the legal framework is identical to any other breed. See our dedicated guide on pit bull attacks in Michigan for the practical issues that arise.

What This Means for Your Case

If you’ve been bitten in Michigan, the dog’s breed doesn’t affect whether you have a case under state law. It MAY affect whether the dog owner’s insurance will pay (due to breed exclusions) — but that’s a coverage question, not a liability question. Investigate the dog’s breed for documentation purposes, but don’t be told “the breed isn’t covered, so you have no case.” That’s wrong.

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