Ascension Parish, LA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Sec. 5-58, titled 'Running at large prohibited,' states plainly that it is unlawful for any person to permit an animal to run at large, and that it is the duty of the owner or keeper to have the animal confined within his property or under his immediate control. The code defines 'at-large' in Sec. 5-33 as any animal not within the confines of its owner's property or vehicle or in the owner's physical possession, though hunting, cattle or stock dogs and government or law enforcement dogs being actively worked under supervision are excepted from that definition, and Sec.

5-58 separately excepts working, stock or hunting dogs from the at-large prohibition itself. The owner's general duties under Sec. 5-46 also require the animal not be at large, on top of vaccination and registration. A dog picked up while running at large is impounded at the animal shelter, and the owner owes the escalating impoundment-fee schedule in Sec. 5-80: $50 for a first offense on a registered, tagged dog rising to $300 for a fourth or later offense in a calendar year, plus the daily board fee in Sec.

5-81. Violating Sec. 5-58 itself is also punishable under the chapter 1 general penalty, Sec. 1-8, of up to $500 or 30 days in jail per continuing day. This prohibition applies only in unincorporated Ascension Parish; Gonzales, Donaldsonville and Sorrento run their own leash ordinances.