The 6 dog breeds banned in Morocco (law 56-12)

Update, August 2026. A new law is now in force: Law 19.25 on stray animals, enacted by dahir no. 1.26.55 of 28 July 2026 and published in Official Bulletin no. 7533. It does not replace law 56-12 described here, it adds to it, and it places new obligations on all dog and cat owners: declaring the animal, an identification number carried permanently, a health record, and strict deadlines if the animal is lost. Our full guide: Law 19.25 on stray animals, what changes for you.

A widely misunderstood law

In Morocco, people often say a dog is "banned" without anyone quoting the actual list. The result: owners worry about a perfectly legal dog, while others buy a genuinely prohibited breed without knowing it. Yet law 56-12 is precise.

In short: law 56-12 bans exactly six breeds in Morocco: the Pitbull, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the American Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the Mastiff, the Boerboel and the Tosa Inu. Contrary to a common belief, the Rottweiler and the Cane Corso are not on that list. Penalties range from two to six months in prison and a fine of 5,000 to 20,000 dirhams.

What law 56-12 actually says

Law 56-12 was published in the Official Bulletin in 2013, then enforced from 2018 through a joint decree of the Ministries of the Interior and Agriculture. It defines a dangerous dog as one that presents, by the nature of its breed or its morphological features, an aggressiveness judged dangerous to humans.

One key point: Morocco did not adopt the French "category" system (first and second category). Here there is a single list of banned breeds, with no intermediate tiers.

The 6 banned breeds

For these breeds, the law prohibits acquisition, keeping, custody, sale, purchase, export, import, breeding and training:

• The Pitbull (American Pit Bull Terrier)
• The Staffordshire Bull Terrier
• The American Staffordshire Bull Terrier
• The Mastiff
• The Boerboel (sometimes called Boerbull, of the mastiff type)
• The Tosa Inu

These six breeds, and only these, form the enforced list. A dog that is not on it is not covered by the ban, even if it is large, muscular or imposing.

The breeds often confused (but legal)

This is the most common source of confusion. Before the law took effect, a preliminary list circulated and named other breeds. It was never made official. So the following are not banned:

• The Rottweiler. Often cited by mistake, it stays legal. To understand the dog behind the reputation, read our Rottweiler profile.
• The Cane Corso. This Italian mastiff is imposing, but it is not on the list. Its full profile is here: Cane Corso.
• The Dogo Argentino and the Great Dane, also named on the old preliminary list, are not banned.

This does not mean these dogs suit everyone. A Rottweiler or a Cane Corso needs an experienced owner, rigorous socialization and a lot of time. Legal does not mean easy.

The penalties

Article 9 of the law sets a penalty of two to six months in prison and a fine of 5,000 to 20,000 dirhams, or one of the two. It applies across the chain: purchase, sale, keeping, import, breeding.

Article 20 also required people who already owned a listed dog to hand it over to the communal veterinary services within one month of publication in the Official Bulletin.

Before bringing home a dog in Morocco

Three simple habits avoid nasty surprises:

• Check the breed with the authorities if you have any doubt. The list of six is stable, but identifying a crossbreed can be confusing.
• Don't judge a dog by its build. The law targets six specific breeds, not every large dog.
• Think about lifestyle first. The real question is not only "is this dog legal?", but "does this dog fit my life, my home and my climate?".

To answer that last question, our Compatibility tool helps you find the companion that fits your daily life, without being swayed by appearances. You can also browse all our breed profiles, written for the Moroccan context.

The takeaway

Law 56-12 bans six breeds in Morocco: Pitbull, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Mastiff, Boerboel and Tosa Inu. The Rottweiler and Cane Corso, often cited by mistake, stay legal. The penalties are real: up to six months in prison and a 20,000 dirham fine. When in doubt, check the breed with the authorities, and above all choose a dog that fits your life.

Also read: The 10 most popular dog breeds in Morocco.

Sources: law 56-12 (Official Bulletin, 2013); joint enforcement decree, Interior and Agriculture (2018).