Tippecanoe County, IN Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- At-large defined as
- Not under direct control or physical restraint (§ 90.02)
- Prohibition
- Owner may not permit animal at-large (§ 90.03(A)(1))
- Tether standard
- 12 ft radius, 180° arc minimum (§ 90.05(D))
- Restraint fine
- $250 (§ 90.99)
- At-large presumption
- Rebuttable presumption of owner failure (§ 90.03(B))
- Habitual offender threshold
- 3+ citations/warnings, up to $2,500 (§ 90.07)
Summary
Tippecanoe County owners may not let a dog or other animal run at-large: loose and out of the owner's direct control or physical restraint. Dogs tied on a rope, chain or cable also need at least 12 feet of unobstructed movement in a 180-degree arc under § 90.05(D).
AT LARGE. An animal not under the direct control of an individual or restrained by an enclosure, leash, chain, or other device of actual physical restraint. (§ 90.02) ... § 90.03 PROHIBITED ACTS. (A) An owner shall not do any of the following: (1) Permit an animal to be at-large. ... § 90.05 RESTRAINT. (D) Dogs restrained through rope, chain, or cable must have unobstructed freedom of movement of a minimum of 12 feet and an arc of not less than 180 degrees. This division does not apply to the use of a leash while the dog is being walked.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-17: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 2025-25-CM, passed 8-1-25; and State legislation current through 2025 Acts, Pamphlet No. 3).
Full Breakdown
§ 90.02 defines AT LARGE as "an animal not under the direct control of an individual or restrained by an enclosure, leash, chain, or other device of actual physical restraint," and § 90.03(A)(1) prohibits an owner from permitting an animal to be at-large. DIRECT CONTROL means immediate, continuous physical control, though it extends to voice or visual commands for a specifically trained animal only while on private property with the owner's permission, not in public. § 90.05(D) separately governs tethering: a dog restrained by rope, chain or cable must have a minimum of 12 feet of unobstructed movement and an arc of not less than 180 degrees, a rule that does not apply to a leash used while walking the dog. § 90.03(B) creates a rebuttable presumption that an owner failed to control, enclose or restrain an animal whenever that animal is found at-large, shifting the burden to the owner to disprove the violation.
Violations & Fines
The § 90.99 penalty table sets a $250 fine for improper or absent restraint. Because an at-large finding carries a rebuttable presumption of an owner's failure to restrain under § 90.03(B), the owner bears the burden of rebutting it at a hearing. Three or more citations or warnings under Chapter 90, including repeated at-large violations, make an owner a habitual offender under § 90.07, exposing the owner to fines up to $2,500 and possible mandatory sterilization of the animal under § 90.10.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as an animal being "at-large" in Tippecanoe County?
Can I let my trained dog off-leash if it obeys voice commands?
How much slack does a chained or tied dog need?
What is the fine if my dog gets loose?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tippecanoe County
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