Anderson, IN Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Code section
- Anderson MC Sec. 91.51
- Restraint required
- Leash/lead or own property
- At-large bite fine
- $1,000
- Impound fees
- $50/$100/$250 + $10/day
- State law
- IC 15-20-1-4 (Class C misd.)
Summary
Anderson Municipal Code Sec. 91.51(B) requires all animals to be kept under restraint. Sec. 91.51(F) makes it unlawful for an animal to be at large, and an at-large animal that injures a person or a lawfully restrained pet carries a $1,000 fine.
It shall be unlawful for an owner's animal to be at large. An owner of an animal which, while at large, caused bodily injury to another person shall pay a $1,000 fine.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-25: Local legislation current through Ord. 11-26, passed 7-9-26 | State legislation current through 2025 ALS Pamphlet No. 3).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 91.51 (Rules and Regulations, Ch. 91 Animals) requires every owner to keep animals under restraint and exercise due care so they do not become a public nuisance. 'Restraint' is defined in Sec. 91.01 as an animal secured by a leash or lead or kept within the real-property limits of its owner; an animal not physically confined to the owner's property is presumed not restrained. Unrestrained animals are impounded at the city Animal Care and Control. Indiana Code 15-20-1-4 layers a state criminal offense on top: an owner who recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally fails to restrain a dog that then leaves the owner's property and bites someone without provocation commits a Class C misdemeanor.
Violations & Fines
At-large animals are impounded. Reclaim fees are $50 (first), $100 (second), $250 (third) plus $10/day. An owner whose at-large animal causes bodily injury to a person, or to another's lawfully restrained pet, pays a $1,000 fine (Sec.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Anderson
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