Acworth, GA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Section 14-3(a) of the Acworth Code makes it unlawful for an owner to let any animal go without immediate control and restraint, or to be on someone else's property without permission; condominium and apartment common areas don't count as the owner's own premises for this purpose. Subsection (b) then sets the specific restraint rules for dogs. On the owner's own premises, a dog must be kept on a chain, leash or tie of not less than six feet attached so the dog stays within the property, or confined in a walled or fenced yard or other secure enclosure.

Off the owner's premises, the dog must be on an appropriate chain, leash or tie not exceeding six feet and in the hands of someone able to directly control it, or under the direct physical control of a person capable of controlling it by voice command from close enough to prevent a violation of the chapter. The section separately bars tying, staking or fastening any animal in a street, alley, sidewalk or other public place, or in a way that lets the animal reach one, requires a female dog in heat to be confined so she cannot contact another animal except for planned breeding, and requires every dog to be controlled so it doesn't molest passersby, chase vehicles, or attack people or other animals.

Enforcement of Acworth's animal chapter runs through an intergovernmental agreement with Cobb County Animal Control under Section 14-135, and the Acworth Police Department also has authority to cite dangerous or potentially dangerous dogs directly.