Farmington Hills Enacts Dog Bite Ordinance

Daniel Buckfire

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Farmington Hills recently enacted a dog bite ordinance that threatens owners of vicious dogs and other pets with the label “dangerous animal.” The ordinance establishes an Animal Review Board, which consists of the City Manager, Police Chief, and Fire Chief, or their designates, and which may include a veterinarian, animal behaviorist, and/or animal trainer.

A “dangerous animal” generally is one which has attacked or bitten a human being or domestic animal, or one which otherwise causes or threatens to cause serious injury to a human being or domestic animal.

If the Animal Review Board labels a dog or other animal as “dangerous,” its owners will be required to register the animal, post signs on their property, properly enclose the animal, and take the animal to obedience classes. Most significantly, owners will also be required to carry a minimum of $1.5 million in personal liability insurance to cover any injuries caused by the animal.

Failure to comply with the ordinance is a misdemeanor. Read the full text of the dog bite ordinance.