Owning a certain breed of dog can affect something you might not expect: your ability to get, keep, or afford homeowners or renters insurance. Many insurers maintain internal lists of “restricted” or “banned” breeds — dogs they won’t cover for liability, or won’t cover at all — based on the breed alone, regardless of that individual dog’s temperament or history. For most of the country, this practice is entirely legal. But a small and growing number of states have started to change that.
This guide explains how breed-based insurance exclusions actually work, whether they’re legal where you live, which breeds are most commonly affected, and what to do if your dog’s breed is putting your coverage at risk.
Why Insurers Exclude Certain Breeds in the First Place
Homeowners and renters insurance typically includes liability coverage, which protects you financially if someone is injured on your property or by something you own — including your dog. Dog bite and dog-related injury claims are a real, and often expensive, source of liability payouts, so insurers try to manage that risk through underwriting.
Rather than evaluating each dog individually, many insurers use breed as a simple proxy for risk, maintaining a list of breeds they consider higher-risk based on historical claims data, size, and public perception. If your dog’s breed appears on an insurer’s restricted list, you may face one of several outcomes:
- Outright denial of coverage for the policy altogether
- Exclusion of dog-related liability from an otherwise standard policy
- Higher premiums specifically due to the breed
- A requirement for additional documentation, like a canine good citizen certification or a liability waiver
- Non-renewal of an existing policy after acquiring a restricted breed
Which Breeds Are Commonly Excluded?
Breed restriction lists vary by insurer, but certain breeds appear repeatedly across the industry. Commonly restricted breeds include:
- Pit bull-type breeds (American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and similar mixes)
- Rottweilers
- German Shepherds
- Doberman Pinschers
- Chow Chows
- Presa Canarios
- Great Danes
- Akitas
- Wolf hybrids
It’s worth noting that this pattern draws significant criticism from veterinary and animal welfare organizations. Critics point out that breed-based restrictions often aren’t well-supported by data — for instance, one widely cited meta-analysis on dog bites found that Great Danes, despite frequently appearing on “banned” lists, actually have one of the lowest documented bite probabilities of any commonly restricted breed. Similarly, some breeds that bite at comparatively higher rates, like certain small breeds, rarely appear on insurer exclusion lists at all, since size and public perception play a significant role in which breeds get targeted.
Is Breed-Based Insurance Exclusion Legal?
In most of the United States, yes — insurers are generally free to underwrite policies however they choose, including refusing coverage, charging more, or excluding liability based on a dog’s breed. There’s no federal law prohibiting this practice, and insurance regulation happens primarily at the state level, which means the legal landscape varies considerably depending on where you live.
States That Have Restricted Breed-Based Insurance Discrimination
A small but growing number of states have passed laws specifically limiting or banning breed-based underwriting practices:
- New York law prohibits homeowners insurers from refusing to issue or renew a policy, canceling coverage, charging higher premiums, or limiting coverage based solely on a dog being a specific breed or breed mix. You can read the official text of New York Insurance Law § 3421 directly through the state Senate’s website.
- Nevada has enacted similar protections preventing insurers from denying or canceling coverage based on breed alone.
- Colorado law prohibits insurers from even asking about a dog’s breed, except to ask whether the dog has been individually declared dangerous.
States Actively Considering Similar Legislation
Other states have introduced, though not yet passed, comparable bills. Michigan lawmakers introduced legislation in 2026 that would prohibit residential property insurers from denying, canceling, or raising premiums based on a dog’s breed or breed mix — following a pattern of prior unsuccessful attempts to pass similar protections in that state. This reflects an active and ongoing policy debate rather than settled law, and similar proposals have surfaced in other states as advocacy groups continue pushing for broader reform.
Everywhere Else
In states without specific legislation on this issue, breed-based insurance practices remain a standard and legal part of underwriting. This means the vast majority of dog owners in the U.S. currently have no legal recourse if their insurer denies coverage or raises rates based on breed alone.
The Case Against Breed-Based Underwriting
Animal welfare organizations and veterinary groups have raised consistent criticism of breed-based insurance restrictions, generally on two grounds:
- Weak actuarial basis: Critics argue there’s insufficient data showing that listed breeds actually generate higher claims than unlisted breeds of similar size, and that breed alone is a poor predictor of an individual dog’s behavior.
- Disproportionate impact on certain communities: Advocacy groups have argued that breed restriction lists disproportionately affect renters, lower-income households, and certain communities where specific breeds are more commonly owned, effectively functioning as a proxy for other forms of discrimination.
These criticisms have driven the recent wave of state-level reform efforts, though the practice remains legal in the large majority of states as of this writing. The ASPCA’s page on ending breed-specific insurance discrimination outlines this advocacy effort in more detail.
What to Do If Your Dog’s Breed Is Excluded or Restricted
If you own a breed that’s commonly restricted, or if your current insurer has flagged your dog, there are several practical paths forward.
1. Shop Around — Breed Policies Vary Significantly by Insurer
Not every insurance company maintains the same restricted breed list, and some carriers have moved away from breed-based underwriting entirely in favor of evaluating individual dogs. It’s worth requesting quotes from multiple insurers rather than assuming a denial from one company reflects industry-wide practice.
2. Look Into Breed-Neutral Insurers
Some major insurers have publicly stated they don’t maintain breed restriction lists at all, instead evaluating dogs individually based on bite history or behavioral factors rather than breed. Confirm this directly with any insurer before assuming a “breed-neutral” reputation applies to every policy they offer, since practices can vary by state and by individual underwriter.
3. Consider a Canine Good Citizen Certification
Some insurers will waive breed restrictions, or offer more favorable terms, for dogs that have completed a recognized good behavior or temperament certification program. This won’t guarantee coverage, but it can meaningfully improve your options with certain carriers.
4. Purchase a Standalone Dog Liability Policy
If your homeowners or renters policy excludes your dog specifically, a standalone canine liability insurance policy can fill that gap, covering bite-related claims independently of your home insurance.
5. Consider an Umbrella Policy
An umbrella liability policy can sometimes provide an additional layer of coverage beyond what a restrictive homeowners or renters policy offers, though it’s important to confirm whether the umbrella policy itself carries the same breed exclusions as the underlying policy.
6. Document Your Dog’s Behavior and Training
Even in states without legal protections, some insurers will consider evidence of your dog’s individual temperament, training history, and lack of prior incidents when making underwriting decisions, particularly if you push back on an initial denial or ask for a manual underwriting review.
Questions to Ask Before You Buy or Adopt a Restricted Breed
If you’re considering adopting or purchasing a dog of a commonly restricted breed, it’s worth doing some insurance homework first:
- Does my current homeowners or renters insurer restrict this breed?
- If restricted, does the policy exclude the breed entirely, or simply raise the premium?
- Are there breed-neutral insurers available in my state?
- Does my state have any legal protections against breed-based underwriting?
- Would a standalone liability policy make sense as a backup, regardless of my primary insurer’s policy?
Doing this research before bringing a restricted-breed dog into your home can prevent an unpleasant surprise — or a policy cancellation — down the line.
Final Thoughts
Breed-based insurance exclusions remain legal across most of the United States, even though the practice draws consistent criticism from veterinary and animal welfare organizations over its weak data foundation. A small number of states — including New York, Nevada, and Colorado — have taken legislative steps to limit or ban the practice, and more states are actively debating similar reforms. Until broader protections exist, the most reliable path forward for owners of commonly restricted breeds is proactive: shop multiple insurers, ask direct questions about breed policies, and consider supplemental coverage options if your primary policy leaves gaps.
This article is intended for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal or insurance advice. Laws and insurer practices vary by state and change frequently, so confirm current requirements with your insurance provider or a licensed professional in your area.
