HB204 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jimmy Martin

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Chilton Co., dangerous dogs, procedures for declaring dog dangerous or a nuisance in unincorporated areas of county, registration requirement, penalties

Summary

HB 204 creates a Chilton County–specific process in unincorporated areas to declare dogs dangerous or a nuisance, regulate their confinement and registration, and set penalties, including potential euthanization.

What This Bill Does

It creates definitions for dangerous and nuisance dogs and a process for investigation, impounding, and court orders. A dangerous dog that has not caused serious injury may be returned to the owner if the dog is properly enclosed and the owner completes required registrations, neutering, microchip identification, vaccination, and insurance requirements. If the dog has caused serious injury or death, the court must order humane euthanization. The act imposes penalties for violations, requires annual registration, and becomes effective only after a local constitutional amendment authorizing regulation of dangerous dogs in the unincorporated area is adopted.

Who It Affects

• Dog owners in Chilton County's unincorporated areas: must comply with investigation, possible impoundment, and registration and enclosure requirements; may face fines or euthanization.
• Animal control officers and county law enforcement: responsible for investigating, impounding, enforcing registration and court orders, and removing dangerous dogs if they threaten public safety.

Key Provisions

• Defines dangerous dog and nuisance dog and establishes enclosure and identification standards.
• Creates a process for investigation, quarantine/impoundment, and court action to declare a dog dangerous or a nuisance.
• Allows a dangerous but non-seriously injurious dog to be returned to the owner if properly enclosed and registered with required safeguards (rabies vaccination, photo, neuter/spay, microchip, and liability insurance or bond).
• Requires within 30 days: registration with animal control or county health department, proof of rabies vaccination, a photo, proper enclosure, microchip, $100,000 liability insurance or bond, and notarized control affidavit; permits property-owner permissions when applicable.
• Imposes penalties for violations (misdemeanors up to $300 first offense and $600 for subsequent offenses; $150 admin fine to county); possible Class C felony for certain repeat or severe attacks; funds directed to county to carry out the act’s purposes.
• Gives law enforcement authority for immediate removal of a dog posing a public safety threat; and makes the act effective only after a local amendment authorizing regulation in unincorporated Chilton County.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Chilton County