Albany City Code Chapter 115, Article I ("Dogs Running at Large") requires every dog in the city to be restrained by an adequate collar and leash whenever off the owner's property. The dog must be under the control of the owner or a responsible person over 12 years of age. Hoffman Park is the only city park where dogs may be off leash if under voice control. All dogs over 4 months must be licensed with the City Clerk under NY Agriculture & Markets Law Article 7.
Albany City Code Chapter 115 ("Animals"), Article I, "Dogs Running at Large," is the operative leash law. It provides that all dogs shall be restrained by an adequate collar and leash, except that within the parks of the City of Albany — not including Hoffman Park — all dogs shall be so restrained or otherwise under the control of the owner or a responsible person over 12 years of age. On any public street, sidewalk, or city-owned right-of-way the leash requirement applies without exception. Hoffman Park (in the city's north end) is the only park where the city tolerates off-leash dogs under voice control; every other city park, schoolyard, plaza, and sidewalk requires a leash.
The ordinance is enforced by Albany Animal Control through the Albany Police Department. Complaints are taken on the non-emergency line at (518) 438-4000. Chapter 115 also incorporates the licensing scheme of New York Agriculture & Markets Law Article 7: every dog four months or older must be licensed annually with the Albany City Clerk and must carry the license tag on its collar. Proof of rabies vaccination is required for licensing. State-set fees apply ($11.50 spayed/neutered, $23.50 intact at last update), with a portion remitted to the state Animal Population Control fund.
New York Agriculture & Markets Law §107(5) preempts breed-specific legislation — Albany cannot ban any breed. Instead, Ag & Markets Law §123 supplies a behavior-based "dangerous dog" framework. A dog that, without justification, attacks a person, companion animal, farm animal, or service animal can be adjudicated dangerous by a city court judge, which can impose restraint, muzzling, neutering, microchipping, and (in cases of serious physical injury or death) court-ordered humane euthanasia. Owners of an adjudicated dangerous dog may also be required to maintain liability insurance of up to $100,000.
Chapter 115, Article III is Albany's pooper-scooper rule — owners must immediately remove and dispose of dog feces on any public or private property other than their own. Bag-and-can compliance is widely enforced in Washington Park and along the Hudson Avenue / Lark Street corridors.
Off-leash violations and other Chapter 115 infractions are violations under New York law. Albany's schedule sets first-offense leash fines at roughly $50, rising to $100–$250 for repeats within the same year. Failure to license a dog is up to $100. Failure to remove waste runs $50–$250. An adjudicated dangerous dog under Ag & Markets §123 may result in court-ordered restraint, mandatory liability insurance up to $100,000, and — where serious injury occurred — misdemeanor charges against the owner. Report violations to Albany Animal Control via the Albany Police non-emergency line at (518) 438-4000.
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