What Are the Leash Laws for Dogs?

Leash laws keep you, your dog and the others in your community safe. Perhaps you've just purchased a new puppy and want to take her to the dog park, but you don't know whether you're supposed to let her run free with other dogs or keep her on a tight leash and introduce her cautiously. Understanding area leash laws will guide you in the care of your own pet and let you know what kind of behavior to expect from other pet owners.

  1. General Leash Laws

    • Twelve states prohibit dogs from running at large, even though only Michigan and Pennsylvania specify dog owners have to restrain their dogs using either a leash or a chain, according to the Animal Legal &Historical Center website. Both states, plus South Carolina, Maine, Wisconsin and Connecticut provide exemptions to leash laws if the dog is engaged in legal hunting practices, and Delaware provides an exemption for farm dogs. Louisiana states that the dog must be under the owner's control if not on a leash. Other states prohibiting loose dogs are Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and New Hampshire.

    Municipal Laws

    • Twelve states---Alaska, Colorado, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Virginia and Wyoming---delegate the power to make leash laws to their local municipalities, says the Animal Legal &Historical Center. Consequently these states have no state leash laws common to all cities, towns or counties within that state, and enforce dog restraint laws at the local level.

    Park Laws

    • Oklahoma and Alabama both prohibit dogs from running loose in park areas. In fact, the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission may kill any dog running loose in an Oklahoma state park, without facing liability. South Carolina prohibits bringing a dog to a park or facility unless it is physically restrained in a crate, cage or on a leash no more than 6 feet long. And Arizona, West Virginia and Massachusetts all require owners to restrain their dogs on leashes in other public places as schools, monuments and highway rest areas.

    Service Dogs

    • Connecticut law requires the owner of the service dog to control her dog on a leash when she is not on her owner's property. The dog must also be wearing a harness or an orange-colored leash and collar to identify him as a guide dog. Louisiana law states that any person or animal injuring a service dog because the owner failed to control her dog on a leash will be fined between $100 and $500, imprisoned for 1 to 6 months, or both.

    Dangerous Dogs

    • When it comes to a dog that has bitten someone else, states may dictate the owner has to keep the dog leashed even on his own property, regulate the length of a leash and require the owner muzzle the dog when he is outside, says the Animal Legal &Historical Center. Violations of such laws often mean criminal charges for the owner and destruction of the dog. If the dog injures another person because her owner failed to obey the dangerous dog laws, the owner could be charged with a felony.