Subdivision 1. Enforcement and Violation Notices
Codified through Bill No. CB-018-2026, adopted May 12, 2026, effective July 24, 2026. Source: Municode, Supplement 2026 Update 2. Editorial notes and legislative history omitted.
Subdivision 1. Enforcement and Violation Notices
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 3-113 (2026)
Sec. 3-113. Duties of AdministratorLinkCopy Citation
(a)
The Administrator shall enforce the provisions of this Subtitle with respect to animal control, prevention of cruelty to animals, and minimum standards for animal holding facilities of all types. The Administrator shall conduct the following programs:
(1)
A program of regular patrols and response to citizen complaints for the purpose of taking into custody, issuing violation notices and citations or resolving problems found to be in violation of this Subtitle;
(2)
A program of regular inspection of all animal holding facilities required to be licensed under the provisions of this Subtitle; and
(3)
A program for the investigation of complaints of cruelty or neglect to animals, and the enforcement of the cruelty and neglect prevention provisions of this Subtitle and of State law.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 3-114 (2026)
Sec. 3-114. Records to be keptLinkCopy Citation
It shall be the duty of the Administrator to keep accurate and detailed records of all licenses issued; impoundments, care, feeding, and veterinary treatment rendered; disposition of animals; enforcement actions; and other activities relating to animals and animal control undertaken for a period of three (3) years after each such activity. The Director shall promulgate regulations prescribing the records to be kept by the Administrator and the manner and method of their maintenance.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 3-115 (2026)
Sec. 3-115. Violation notices; CitationsLinkCopy Citation
(a)
Whenever in this Subtitle any act or condition is prohibited or is made or declared to be unlawful or an offense, or whenever in this Subtitle the doing of any act or the maintenance of any condition is required or the failure to do any act or the maintenance of any condition is declared to be unlawful, the violation of any such provision of this Subtitle may be evidenced and notice thereof may be given by an Animal Control Officer or a police officer by the issuance of a notice of violation or citation, on a form to be designated and approved by the County Executive. A police officer or Animal Control Officer witnessing a violation shall be authorized to issue such notice of violation or citation.
(b)
The notice of violation or citation shall contain and specify:
(1)
The violation with which such person is charged, with reference to the applicable Section of this Subtitle;
(2)
The addresses of the offices of the Commission and of the Administrator; and
(3)
A notice that the person charged may apply to the Commission for a hearing to consider the charges or may pay the civil penalty assessed;
(4)
A place in which a person may endorse the notice by signing his name and stating his address, indicating his receipt thereof and willingness to appear before the Commission if the violation or citation is contested.
(c)
The notice of violation or citation may be issued to both residents and nonresidents when found within the County's geographical boundaries.
(d)
The person serving notice shall make proof of his service to the Commission promptly and, in any event, within the time during which the person served must request a hearing before the Commission. Failure to make proof of service to the Commission, however, shall not affect the validity of the violation notice or citation.
(e)
The person served with a violation notice or citation may, in lieu of requesting a hearing before the Commission, pay to Prince George's County, Maryland, through the Administrator, the amount of the civil penalty stated upon the face of the violation notice or citation, which amount shall be as set forth in Section 3-116, below.
(f)
Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection (e), above, the Commission, in its discretion, may review any violation notice or citation filed, and treat the same as any written complaint of a violation of this Subtitle. If the Commission determines that there is reason to believe that action other than or in addition to a civil penalty is required, it may give notice of a hearing to investigate the matter and require the attendance of the person charged to appear before the Commission at the hearing.
(g)
Any person failing to comply with an order issued by the Animal Control Commission shall be subject to a fine not to exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) and/or imprisonment not to exceed ninety (90) days.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 3-115.01 (2026)
Sec. 3-115.01. InvestigationsLinkCopy Citation
(a)
No person shall willfully hinder, prevent, or obstruct the investigation of any animal related violation of any provision in this Subtitle.
(b)
No person shall falsify a statement to an investigating officer.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 3-116 (2026)
Sec. 3-116. Civil penalties; subsequent violationsLinkCopy Citation
(a)
Any person found to have violated any provision of this Subtitle shall be subject to the following civil penalties:
(1)
For violation of Sections 3-133, 3-134, 3-135, 3-138, 3-139, 3-144, 3-145, 3-148, and 3-184, the fines shall be Fifty Dollars ($50.00) for the first violation, One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) for the second offense, and Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) for each subsequent violation.
(2)
For violation of Sections 3-125, 3-132, 3-148.03, 3-149, 3-158, 3-159, 3-160 through 3-174, 3-177, 3-183, 3-186, 3-188, and 3-190, the civil penalty for each violation shall be One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) for the first violation, Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for the second violation, and One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for each subsequent violation.
(3)
For violation of Sections 3-175, 3-176, 3-189, 3-191, 3-195, and 3-196, the civil penalty for the first violation shall be One Hundred Dollars ($100.00), One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for the second offense, and Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) for each subsequent violation.
(4)
For violation of Sections 3-131, 3-141, 3-142, and 3-180, the civil penalty shall be Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for the first violation, One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for the second violation, and Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) for each subsequent violation.
(5)
For violation of any other Section of this Subtitle not separately specified in this Section, the civil penalty shall be Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) for the first violation, Fifty Dollars ($50.00) for the second violation occurring within a twenty-four (24) month period, and One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) for each subsequent violation occurring within a twenty-four (24) month period.
(6)
For violation of Sections 3-136 and 3-137, the civil penalty shall be Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for the first violation, One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) for the second violation, and Three Thousand ($3,000.00) for each subsequent violation.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 3-116.01 (2026)
Sec. 3-116.01. Criminal penalties; violationsLinkCopy Citation
(a)
Any person found to have violated any provision of Section 3-185.01 shall be fined up to $1,000.00 or may be sentenced to not more than six (6) months of imprisonment.
(b)
A Pit Bull that causes injury to or kills a human being or a domestic animal without provocation shall be humanely destroyed, and the owner of such dog shall be fined up to $1,000.00 or may be sentenced to not more than six (6) months of imprisonment.
(c)
For violation of Section 3-115(g), the criminal penalty shall be up to One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) and/or imprisonment for up to ninety (90) days.
(d)
For violation of Section 3-135, the criminal penalty shall be up to Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) and/or imprisonment for up to ninety (90) days.
(e)
For violation of Section 3-131, 3-180(a), 3-180(b)(4) or Section 3-180(c), the criminal penalty shall be One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) and/or imprisonment for up to six (6) months.
(f)
For any violation of Section 3-136, upon conviction, the criminal penalty shall be $500.00 nor more than $1,000.00, and/or imprisonment for up to 180 days.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 3-117 (2026)
Sec. 3-117. Options available to person receiving citationLinkCopy Citation
(a)
A person receiving an Animal Control violation notice or citation must select one of the following:
(1)
To pay the fine provided for in the citation to the Administrator within ten (10) days of receipt of the violation notice or citation; or
(2)
Within ten (10) days of receipt of the citation, submit a written request for a hearing and for dismissal of the citation by the Commission; and to pay the fine should the Commission fail to dismiss the citation.
(b)
The failure of the person charged to note a timely appeal to the Commission or to pay the amount of the civil penalty within the time for appeal shall constitute an admission of liability for the amount of the civil penalty.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 3-118 (2026)
Sec. 3-118. Duty of charging officerLinkCopy Citation
(a)
Each police officer or Animal Control Officer who issues a violation notice or citation to an alleged violator shall:
(1)
Promptly file the original copy with the Administrator; and
(2)
Appear for the hearing of such citation should it proceed to hearing.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 3-119 (2026)
Sec. 3-119. Duty of the Administrator upon receiving violation noticeLinkCopy Citation
(a)
Upon receiving the original copy of a violation notice or citation issued to a person alleged to have violated this Subtitle, the Administrator shall:
(1)
Promptly give notice of receipt of the violation notice or citation to the Commission; and
(2)
Maintain a record of the violation notice or citation; and
(3)
Notify the Commission of payment of the fine if the fine is received within the period for appeal to the Commission; and
(4)
Notify the Commission of an election to appeal to the Commission. Upon receipt of notification of an appeal, the Commission shall schedule and give notice of a hearing.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 3-120 (2026)
Sec. 3-120. Recovery of Civil PenaltiesLinkCopy Citation
All civil penalties assessed by police officers or Animal Control Officers, or imposed by the Commission pursuant to this Subtitle, shall be due and payable immediately, unless the person charged shall note a timely appeal to the Commission or a court of proper jurisdiction. In the event that any penalty ordered to be paid by the Commission or forfeited by failure to appeal or to attend a hearing is not paid within thirty (30) days of the violation notice or the Commission's order, whichever is later, the Commission shall refer the matter to the Office of Law. The Office of Law shall institute appropriate civil proceedings to recover the amount of the penalty. All penalties recovered pursuant to this Subtitle in a civil proceeding brought by the Office of Law shall be paid to, and become the property of, Prince George's County, Maryland.