Dog Leash Laws in the United States
Several states have state-wide dog leash laws and requirements. These laws are usually referred to as "Running at Large Statutes." In states without "Running at Large Statutes," local governments, such as counties, towns, cities, municipalities, and boroughs, often enact their own leash laws.
But even where there are state-wide leash laws, it's often the case that the state government permits local governments to pass their own leash laws. Often, the local laws are stricter than the state laws. If any confusion arises over the leash laws in your home, contact your local government for more information.
Please note, there are many state laws that require dangerous dogs to be on leashes and muzzled to protect public safety. For more information, visit our Dangerous Dog Laws.
To learn the dog leash laws in your home state, click on the map or find your state below:
Alabama Leash Law
Dogs are not permitted to run at large in Alabama. They must be appropriately confined at all times, either by a leash when off the property or other means to keep them within an owner's property. A dog owner may be fined between $2 and $50 for failure to leash the dog.
Back to TopAlaska Leash Law
Alaska does not have a state-wide leash law. Local governments may make leash laws -- check with your local municipality for leash laws in your area.
Back to TopArizona Leash Law
In Arizona, dogs must be leashed when they are at public parks and on public school property. Generally, no female dog in heat or vicious dog may go at large.
Back to TopCalifornia Leash Law
It is unlawful for any person to permit any female dog which is owned, harbored, or controlled by him, to run at large at any time during the period when the dog is in heat or breeding condition. West's Ann.Cal.Food & Agric.Code § 30954
Back to TopColorado Leash Law
Colorado does not have a state-wide leash law, but all dogs must be under control at all times. The state gives local governments the power to make leash laws for municipalities. Please check with your municipality for leash laws in your area.
Back to TopConnecticut Leash Law
Under Connecticut law, it is unlawful to permit a dog to run at large. The only exception is for hunting dogs. Under this statute, if an owner or keeper permits a dog to run at large when the owner or keeper knows, or should have known, of the dog’s vicious propensities, and the dog bites someone, the owner or keeper is not only subject to civil liability, but can also be fined up to $1,000 and be imprisoned for six months. The only defense is when the victim teased, tormented, or abused the dog. The law also states that guide dogs must be on a leash when out in public and wearing a harness or an orange-colored leash that makes it identifiable as a guide dog.
Back to TopDelaware Leash Law
Dogs are not permitted to run at large in Delaware, unless they are accompanied and under the reasonable control of an owner or custodian. The only exception is for farm dogs.
From sunset to sunrise, dogs must be: (1) confined in an enclosure that prevents escape; or (2) firmly secured with a collar or chain or other device, so they can't stray from the premises; or (3) under the reasonable control of some person. If a dog is running at large and bites someone, the owner or custodian of the dog is subject to civil liability, as well as a fine of $100 to $500 for the first offense, and $750 to $1,500 for second and subsequent offenses.
Back to TopDistrict of Columbia Leash Law
The Council of the District of Columbia is hereby authorized and empowered to make and modify, and the Mayor of the District of Columbia is hereby authorized and empowered to enforce, regulations in and for the District of Columbia to regulate the keeping and leashing of dogs and to regulate or prohibit the running at large of dogs
If any owner or possessor of a female dog shall permit her to go at large in the District of Columbia while in heat, he shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine not exceeding $20.
Back to TopHawaii Dog Leash Law
It is unlawful for owners to permit dogs to run at large on public highways, streets, unfenced lots, or not within a sufficient enclosure. It is unlawful for female dogs to run at large while in heat.
Back to TopIowa Leash Law
Iowa does not have a state-wide leash law. Animals may not run at large, however. Dogs who are running at large and are not wearing valid rabies vaccination tags will be impounded by a local board of health or law enforcement official.
Back to TopKentucky Leash Law
Every female dog in heat shall be confined in a building or secure enclosure in such a manner that the female dog cannot come in contact with a male dog except for a planned breeding.
Any peace officer or animal control officer may seize or destroy any dog found running at large between the hours of sunset and sunrise and unaccompanied and not under the control of its owner or handler.
Back to TopLouisiana Leash Law
In Louisiana, dogs are not permitted to run at large. Guide dogs must be on leashes when out in public.
Back to TopMaine Leash Law
It is unlawful for any dog, except a hunting dog, to run at large in Maine.
Back to TopMaryland Leash Law
Counties may impose regulations for the seizure and disposal of dogs running at large.
Back to TopMassachusetts Leash Law
Massachusetts does not have a state-wide leash law. The state requires dogs to be on leashes when on an officially designated public highway rest area. Additionally, local municipalities may enact laws -- please check with your local government for leash laws in your area.
Back to TopMichigan Leash Law
Owners must restrain their dogs on leashes when dogs are not on their owner's property. Dogs over six months must be registered and wear a collar at all times. Additionally, female dogs in heat must be kept on their owner's premises or restrained on a leash.
Back to TopMinnesota Leash Law
Minnesota does not have a state-wide leash law. Unlicensed dogs may not run at large -- they will be impounded.
Back to TopMississippi Leash Law
Mississippi does not have a state-wide leash law. Local municipalities and local governments may enact leash laws -- please check with yours for leash laws in your area.
Back to TopMissouri Leash Law
Missouri has a "State Lands Leash Law." Under this law, dogs must be on leashes no longer than 10 feet when they are in state parks or on state historic sites.
Additionally, Missouri law prohibits dogs that have rabies, or dogs that have been exposed, to rabies to run at large.
Back to TopMontana Leash Law
Montana does not have a state-wide leash law. The state allows local governments and municipalities to enact leash laws for their respective areas.
Back to TopNebraska Leash Law
In counties where the population is 80,000 or more, Nebraska law prohibits dogs from running at large. The owner of any dog running at large for 10 days without a collar as required shall be fined an amount not to exceed $25.
Back to TopNevada Leash Law
It is unlawful for the owner of any dog to permit such dog to run at large if such dog is actively tracking, pursuing, harassing, attacking or killing any wildlife in a state-owned wildlife management area.
Back to TopNew Hampshire Leash Law
It is unlawful for any dog to run at large in New Hampshire, except (1) when the dog is accompanied by its owner or a custodian; or (2) where the dog is being used for, or being trained for, hunting, herding, or supervised competition and exhibition.
Back to TopNew Jersey Leash Law
The governing body of every municipality may make, amend, repeal and enforce ordinances to prohibit or regulate the running at large of dogs.
Back to TopNew Jersey Leash Law
The governing body of every municipality may make, amend, repeal and enforce ordinances to prohibit or regulate the running at large of dogs.
Back to TopNew York Leash Law
New York law allows local governments to make leash laws. Check with your local municipality for leash laws in your area.
Back to TopNorth Carolina Leash Law
In North Carolina, dogs are not permitted to run at large at nighttime, unless they are accompanied by a member of the owner’s family or some other person who has the owner’s permission.
Back to TopOhio Leash Law
In Ohio, dogs must be physically confined or restrained or properly leashed and controlled by a person, except in cases where the dog is hunting with its owner or keeper.
Back to TopOklahoma Leash Law
In Oklahoma, people with dogs must have them on a leash when on state park property, recreational ground, or state monument. Oklahoma authorizes each municipality to regulate dogs running at large.
Back to TopOregon Leash Law
A dog is a public nuisance if it is a female in heat and running at large
Back to TopPennsylvania Leash Law
In Pennsylvania, dogs must be confined within their owner’s property; firmly secured on the premises so they cannot stray; or reasonably controlled by a person.
Back to TopRhode Island Leash Law
City or town councils may make any ordinances concerning dogs in their cities or towns as the councils deem expedient, pertaining to the conduct of dogs, which ordinances shall include regulations relating to unrestricted dogs, leash laws, confinement, and destruction of vicious dogs.
Gen.Laws 1956, § 4-13-15.1
Back to TopSouth Carolina Leash Law
In South Carolina, dogs must not be allowed to run at large. In state parks, dogs must be leashed at all times.
Back to TopSouth Dakota Leash Law
South Dakota authorizes each municipality to regulate or prohibit the running of dogs at large.
Back to TopTennessee Leash Law
In Tennessee, it is unlawful to permit a dog to run at large, unless the dog is engaged in legal hunting or herding.
Back to TopTexas Leash Law
The owner of a dog has a duty to keep that dog under reasonable control at all times, and to keep that dog from running at large.
V.T.C.A., Health & Safety Code § 822.012
The owner or person having control of a dog at least six months of age in a county adopting this subchapter may not allow the dog to run at large unless the dog the dog is registers and is wearing an identification tag.
V.C.T.A.,Health & Safety Code § 822.031
Back to TopVirginia Leash Law
Virginia does not have a state-wide leash law. Local governments and municipalities may enact leash laws.
Back to TopWest Virginia Leash Law
West Virginia does not have a law that requires dogs to be leashed. It does, however, have a law that holds dog owners and keepers liable for all damages caused by dogs that are permitted to run at large.
Back to TopWisconsin Leash Law
The state of Wisconsin holds dog owners and keepers liable for all damages caused by dogs that run at large.
Dogs may not run at large or be untagged; dogs found to be running at large or untagged will be impounded. Owners of such dogs will be fined up to $100 for the first offense, and up to $200 for subsequent offenses.
A dog is considered to be running at large if it is off the premises of its owner and not under the control of the owner or some other person. A dog that is actively engaged in a legal hunting activity, including training, is not considered to be running at large if the dog is monitored or supervised by a person and the dog is on land that is open to hunting or on land on which the person has obtained permission to hunt or to train a dog. Dogs running at large or an untagged dog is subject to impoundment. An officer shall attempt to capture and restrain any dog running at large and any untagged dog.
Back to TopWyoming Leash Law
Wyoming does not have a state-wide leash law. However, a dog running at law may be declared a public nuisance. Local governments and municipalities may enact leash laws.
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