Potentially dangerous animals.
Denver Revised Municipal Code § 8-63
in effectSec. 8-63. - Potentially dangerous animals.
(a) Potentially dangerous animal means any animal, except an animal assisting a law enforcement officer engaged in law enforcement duties, that may be a threat to public safety as demonstrated by any of the following behaviors:
(1) Causes any bodily injury less than serious bodily injury to any person, domestic animal, or livestock;
(2) Without provocation, approaches any person in a menacing or terrorizing manner or in an apparent attitude of attack while off the owner's or keeper's property; or
(3) Attacks any person, domestic animal, or livestock who is lawfully on the owner's or keeper's property. For purposes of this section, a person is lawfully upon the premises of an owner or keeper when such person is on the premises in the performance of any duty imposed by law or by the express or implied invitation of the owner of such premises or the owner's agent.
(b) It is unlawful to own or keep any potentially dangerous animal within the city unless:
(1) The owner or keeper obtains a valid potentially dangerous animal permit issued pursuant to section 8-64 and is in full compliance with all terms and conditions of such permit; or
(2) Denver Animal Protection has removed the obligation of the owner or keeper to obtain a potentially dangerous animal permit pursuant to section 8-64(d). After any animal has been adjudicated potentially dangerous through conviction or entry of a plea in the county court, the animal may be permitted to remain in the city if, and only if, the owner applies for and receives a potentially dangerous animal permit from Denver Animal Protection. The county court shall order any such owner or keeper of a potentially dangerous animal to apply for such permit within five (5) days of the date of conviction and to maintain such permit for such animal.
(c) The affirmative defenses in section 8-61(d) shall also apply to this section.
(Ord. No. 672-18, § 1, 7-16-18; Ord. No. 539-23, § 10, 6-5-23)
Source: City and County of Denver, Revised Municipal Code and Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/co/denver/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIIREMUCO_CH8AN_ARTIIDOCA_DIV4ANATBIDAPODAAN_S8-63PODAANFetched: 10/27/2026