{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-criminal-law-10-619","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Criminal Law § 10–619","heading":"","body":"(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.\n(2) “Dangerous dog” means a dog that:\n(i) without provocation has killed or inflicted severe injury on a person; or\n(ii) is determined by the appropriate unit of a county or municipal corporation under subsection (c) of this section to be a potentially dangerous dog and, after the determination is made:\n1. bites a person;\n2. when not on its owner’s real property, kills or inflicts severe injury on a domestic animal; or\n3. attacks without provocation.\n(3) (i) “Owner’s real property” means real property owned or leased by the owner of a dog.\n(ii) “Owner’s real property” does not include a public right-of-way or a common area of a condominium, apartment complex, or townhouse development.\n(4) “Severe injury” means a physical injury that results in broken bones or disfiguring lacerations requiring multiple sutures or cosmetic surgery.\n(b) This section does not apply to a dog owned by and working for a governmental or law enforcement unit.\n(c) An appropriate unit of a county or municipal corporation may determine that a dog is potentially dangerous if the unit:\n(1) finds that the dog:\n(i) has inflicted a bite on a person while on public or private real property;\n(ii) when not on its owner’s real property, has killed or inflicted severe injury on a domestic animal; or\n(iii) has attacked without provocation; and\n(2) notifies the dog owner in writing of the reasons for this determination.\n(d) A dog owner may not:\n(1) leave a dangerous dog unattended on the owner’s real property unless the dog is:\n(i) confined indoors;\n(ii) in a securely enclosed and locked pen; or\n(iii) in another structure designed to restrain the dog; or\n(2) allow a dangerous dog to leave the owner’s real property unless the dog is leashed and muzzled, or is otherwise securely restrained and muzzled.\n(e) An owner of a dangerous dog or potentially dangerous dog who sells or gives the dog to another shall notify in writing:\n(1) the authority that made the determination under subsection (c) of this section, of the name and address of the new owner of the dog; and\n(2) the person taking possession of the dog, of the dangerous behavior or potentially dangerous behavior of the dog.\n(f) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $2,500.","path":["Article - Criminal Law"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gcr\u0026section=10-619","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:57:08Z","sha256":"deae6cbf23397fa0c0dd008216591cb85b6e3d061935fcd7631e5fc25b1ab1ac","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-criminal-law-10-618","next":"us-md/md.-code-criminal-law-10-620"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}