FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. -- Pet owners in Farmington Hills are now subject to having their pets being labeled as “dangerous” and being required to carry liability insurance.

The city has set up an animal review board to determine whether a pet is potentially dangerous based on reports of attacks.

Read the full ordinance here: Farmington Hills’ Dangerous Animals Rule

According to city documents, the board consists of “the city manager, police chief and fire chief, or their respective designated deputies or assistants.” And although not required, the board could include a licensed veterinarian, certified animal behaviorist or certified animal trainer.

The city defined a “dangerous animal” as “a dog or other animal that bites or attacks a person or causes serious injury to a person or domestic animal, a dog or other animal that has been designated as a potentially dangerous animal that poses a threat to public safety as described … or a dog or domestic animal that bites or attacks and causes serious injury or death to another dog or domestic animal while the other dog or domestic animal is on the property or under the control of its owner.”

The city clarified in the ordinance that the dangerous-animal label would not apply to pets that bite or attack a person who is knowingly trespassing on property.

If the animal is labeled dangerous, owners will be required to register the animal, post notifications on their property, properly enclose the animal and take their pet to an assigned obedience class.

Owners will also be required to carry at lease $1.5 million in personal liability insurance, designed to cover any claims of injury inflicted by the animal.

A violation, or failure to comply with the ordinance, is a misdemeanor.

Questions about the ordinance can be directed to the Farmington Hills City Clerk’s office, 248-871-2410.