Aug 24, 2026

Denver's Breed-Restricted Permit: Why a Visiting Pit Bull Needs One Before It Arrives

Denver states that American pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers and Staffordshire bull terriers are legal in the city only with a Breed-Restricted Permit, and its own FAQ says a visiting dog needs one too. Here is the process, the cost and the three-year clock.

Luis ZamoraCo-founder of PetCompass; Dog Dad to Banzo and Tuck

Denver, Colorado11 min readPet Care & Services

If your dog looks like a pit bull, read this before you drive into Denver.

The City and County of Denver states it plainly on its own page: "Pitties (American pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, and Staffordshire bull terriers) are legal in Denver only when they have received a Breed-Restricted Permit."

And its own frequently asked questions answer the visitor case without hedging. Question: "I live in another city and I want to bring my pit bull in for a visit. Do I need a permit?" Answer: "Yes."

No other city in this project has a rule like it. Here is exactly how it works, what it costs, and what it means for a weekend trip.

The short version

What	Detail
Breeds named	American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier
Ordinance	Denver Sec. 8-67
Applies to visitors	yes, for the dog "to be within Denver City and County limits at any time"
How it starts	an in-person breed evaluation at Denver Animal Shelter
Evaluation window	1 p.m. to 3 p.m., 7 days a week, no appointment
Typical length	no more than 15 minutes
Ages evaluated	dogs 10 months of age or older
Cost	$25 evaluation, $30 permit, $15 pet licence
Renewal	$30 per animal per year, for three years
Can you buy it remotely first	no

Every line of that comes from the city's Breed-Restricted Permits page.

What the ordinance actually says

The city summarises it this way: "Under Denver's Ordinance Sec. 8-67, restricted breeds (American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, or Staffordshire Bull Terrier) are prohibited unless they have been issued a provisional Breed-Restricted Permit."

The definition is about appearance, not paperwork. The city defines a pit bull-type dog as "any dog displaying a majority of physical traits of any one or more of the specific breeds mentioned above, or any dog exhibiting those distinguishing (physical) characteristics that substantially conform to the standards established by American Kennel Club or United Kennel Club."

Read that carefully, because it is the part that catches people out. A dog of unknown parentage that looks the part is inside the rule. A DNA test result is not the test the city applies; a Denver Animal Protection officer's evaluation of physical characteristics is.

The city says as much for owners who are unsure: "If you are unsure of your dog's primary breed, you should bring your pup in for a breed evaluation at Denver Anima[l Shelter]."

The four visitor questions, answered by the city itself

These are quoted from the city's own FAQ, and they close most of the loopholes people hope for.

Bringing a dog in at all. "Can I bring my pit bull into Denver? You cannot bring a restricted-breed dog into Denver until you have a Breed-Restricted Permit issued by DAP."

Visiting from another city. "Yes. All suspected pit bull dogs must have a breed evaluation completed at DAP, and if the dog is determined by DAP to be a restricted-breed dog, a permit is required for the dog to be within Denver City and County limits at any time."

Using a Denver day care or boarding facility while you are not a resident. "Yes. All pit bulls must be permitted to be within Denver City and County limits at any time. There is no exception for owned dogs that will be placed at any boarding or day care facility."

Buying the permit before you arrive. "Unfortunately, this is not an option. DAP needs to complete an in-person evaluation of the dog to determine its breed, and then you can purchase the permit, if necessary." The city adds that if you get the evaluation done before moving, you may buy the permit then and update it with a Denver address later.

So the sequence for a visitor is uncomfortable but clear. The dog has to be physically present at the shelter for the evaluation, and the permit follows the evaluation. There is no online pre-clearance.

What it costs, and what else has to be true

The headline figure the city gives is "General Cost: $25 for evaluation, $30 for Breed-Restricted Permit, $15 for pet license."

The permit application requires all of the following, in the city's words:

name and address of the owner or keeper where the pit bull will be located
names and addresses of two people who may be contacted in an emergency involving the dog
an accurate description of the dog and a recent photograph
payment of the $30 permit fee, in addition to the $25 assessment fee
"Proof the dog is neutered or spayed, or proof of a DAP intact permit that allows the dog to remain unaltered"
proof of a registered implanted microchip
proof of a current rabies vaccination
proof of a city licence, and the city notes a pet licence "cannot be purchased through PetData. Please visit the Denver Animal Shelter to purchase a pet license"
"Any other information that DAP reasonably requires"

Two of those are worth flagging for anyone travelling.

The microchip requirement is absolute, so a dog whose chip registration is stale is a problem waiting to happen. Our microchipping your pet guide covers keeping registration current, which matters everywhere but is a permit condition here.

The spay or neuter requirement is separate from the permit, and it is a citywide rule. The city's animal ordinances page states: "Denver requires any dog or cat over the age of 6 months to be spayed or neutered. An intact permit allows an exception to this rule." Our spaying and neutering your pet guide covers the decision itself as a veterinary question rather than a legal one.

The three-year clock, and what resets it

The permit "must be renewed every year for 3 years (at $30 per animal per year)." If there are no violations in that period, the city says owners "may be provided with written notice that they have been removed from the Breed-Restricted permitting requirements."

The city lists examples of what counts as a violation, and the list is broader than people expect:

an off-leash charge
a lapsed permit charge
an excrement charge
a bite charge
an excessive barking charge
a potentially dangerous animal or dangerous animal charge

"Each violation results in a resetting of the three-year time period, or other consequences." And to reapply, "owners and keepers must show proof that the violation has been corrected."

Which links this rule to the ordinary rules. An off-leash ticket is a minor annoyance for most dogs in most cities. For a permitted dog in Denver it restarts a three-year clock. That is a good reason to be scrupulous about the lead, the waste bag and the noise. Denver's published fine for a first leash-law violation is $80 on its administrative citations schedule, and $150 for a second within 12 months.

The dogs already caught by the old rule

Denver's approach changed. The city's FAQ addresses dogs found illegal under the previous ordinance: "Under the 2021 ordinance, you may bring the dog that was previously illegal back to Denver, but first you must obtain a permit."

The route it gives is to bring the breed letter previously issued to the shelter during business hours and request a permit application from staff.

What this means for planning a trip

Being practical rather than dramatic about it, there are three honest options.

Option one, get the evaluation. If your trip is long enough to justify it, arrive, go to Denver Animal Shelter at 1241 W. Bayaud Ave. inside the 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. window, and expect the evaluation to take under fifteen minutes. Have rabies paperwork, microchip details, and proof of spay or neuter with you, because the permit needs them.

Option two, stay outside the city and county limits. The rule applies within Denver City and County. Neighbouring jurisdictions have their own rules, which we have not read, so check the specific city rather than assuming. This is the option that suits a short trip built around trails rather than the city.

Option three, take the dog somewhere else. Not the answer anybody wants, and it is still the right answer for some trips. Colorado Springs, an hour and a half south, is covered in our own city guides and has no equivalent breed rule that we have found.

What is not an option is arriving and hoping. The city's language is that a permit is required for the dog "to be within Denver City and County limits at any time", and the enforcement pathway starts at an administrative citation.

If your dog is not a restricted breed

Most of this page does not apply to you, but two things still do.

The spay or neuter rule. Denver requires dogs over six months to be sterilised, and its published fine for a spay and neuter violation is $250 for a first offence, rising to $550 and $900. The city notes that a first violation penalty "is reduced by 100%" if compliance is demonstrated within 20 calendar days.

The dog park entry conditions. Denver's own dog park rules require that "Dogs must be spayed or neutered, or have a current Denver Intact Permit (Denver residents)" and that "Dogs must have current rabies and Denver dog license." So an unsterilised visiting dog is outside the off-leash system regardless of breed.

Our pet health and vaccination tracker is a free way to keep the rabies record you will be asked for, and our pre-travel pet checklist covers what to carry. If you are driving in, our road trips with your dog guide covers the journey itself.

Where to ask, rather than guess

Denver Animal Shelter, 1241 W. Bayaud Ave., Denver, CO 80223. The city lists officer dispatch on 720-913-2080 and all other inquiries through 3-1-1 or (720) 913-1311.

This is a rule where a phone call before you travel is worth more than any article, ours included. Our questions to ask before booking a pet-friendly hotel guide covers the parallel conversation with the property, because a hotel's own breed policy is a separate matter from the city's permit.

Conclusion

Denver is the only city in this project where a specific group of dogs needs a permit simply to be inside the city limits, and where the city says in writing that a visiting dog is included.

If your dog might be read as a pit bull-type dog by an evaluator looking at its physical characteristics, treat the permit as part of the trip rather than a formality. Evaluation is 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., seven days a week, no appointment, about fifteen minutes, $25, and the permit is $30 with a $15 licence on top.

And if you are permitted, be immaculate about the lead and the waste bag, because a single off-leash charge restarts a three-year clock.

Frequently asked questions

Are pit bulls legal in Denver?

Only with a permit. The city states that American pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers and Staffordshire bull terriers "are legal in Denver only when they have received a Breed-Restricted Permit", under Ordinance Sec. 8-67.

Do I need a permit to visit Denver with my pit bull?

Yes, according to the city's own FAQ. It states that a permit is required for a restricted-breed dog "to be within Denver City and County limits at any time", and that all suspected pit bull dogs must have a breed evaluation completed by Denver Animal Protection.

Can I get the permit before I arrive?

No. The city says this is not an option because Denver Animal Protection needs to complete an in-person evaluation of the dog first.

How much does it cost?

The city gives $25 for the evaluation, $30 for the Breed-Restricted Permit and $15 for the pet licence. Renewal is $30 per animal per year for three years.

How is the breed determined?

By evaluation of physical characteristics. The city defines a pit bull-type dog as any dog displaying a majority of physical traits of the named breeds, or exhibiting characteristics that substantially conform to American Kennel Club or United Kennel Club standards.

When can I get an evaluation?

Between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., seven days a week, at Denver Animal Shelter, with no appointment necessary. The city says evaluations typically last no more than 15 minutes, and that only dogs 10 months of age or older must be evaluated.

Sources

Permit rules and fees change. Confirm with Denver Animal Protection before you travel.