Bartow County, GA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Rule
- Every dog must be under secure control
- Off-premises control
- Leash, chain or tie held by a person
- Minimum tether length
- 10 feet
- Public property
- No tethering on streets or sidewalks
- Cats
- Exempt from secure-control requirement
- First-offense fine
- $150.00 minimum
Summary
Unincorporated Bartow County requires every dog (cats are exempt) to be under secure control at all times, on or off its owner's property. Off premises, secure control means the dog is on a leash, chain or tie held by a competent person, safely confined in a vehicle, or enclosed with the property owner's permission, per Bartow County Code § 14-14.
(a)(1)Control of animals. Every animal shall be restrained and controlled so as to prevent it from molesting passersby, chasing vehicles, or attacking persons or other animals. It shall be a violation of this section for the owner of an animal, or for the person having possession of, responsibility for, or custody of an animal, to not have the animal under secure control whether on the premises of such person or off the premises. ... (3)Secure control off premises. When an animal is off the premises of the owner or the person having possession of, responsibility for, or custody of an animal, "secure control" shall mean: the animal is secured by a leash, chain, tie or other device held by a competent person; the animal is tethered consistent with subparagraph (b) with the permission of the person upon whose property the animal is tethered; the animal is safely confined within a vehicle, consistent with subparagraph (e); or the animal is enclosed in a fence or other enclosure sufficient to contain the animal with permission of the owner of the property where the enclosure is located.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 14-14(a)(2) defines secure control on the owner's own premises as a sufficient fence or enclosure, an electronic fence with a shock collar, a tether meeting the standards of subsection (b), or direct voice command, and voice command only counts if the handler is outside, in close proximity, and the dog is demonstrably responsive to spoken commands. Off premises, Sec. 14-14(a)(3) requires the dog to be on a leash, chain, or tie held by a competent person, tethered with the landowner's permission, safely confined in a vehicle, or enclosed with the property owner's permission.
Tethering rules under Sec. 14-14(b) set a minimum tether length of ten feet, ban choke, pinch and prong collars, require access to shelter and water including shade above 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and bar tethering a dog to any stationary point; only a running cable or trolley line is allowed outside. Sec. 14-14(c) bans tying an animal on any street, alley, sidewalk or other public place. Female dogs in heat must be confined away from other animals under Sec. 14-14(d), and no animal may be left unattended in a vehicle under conditions endangering its health under Sec. 14-14(e). Sec. 14-14(a)(5) exempts cats from the whole secure-control requirement, though a cat still may not trespass onto another person's property.
Violations & Fines
A violation of Chapter 14, including a failure to keep a dog under secure control, carries a minimum fine of $150.00 for a first offense, $300.00 for a second, and $450.00 for a third or subsequent offense under Sec. 14-123, with a $1,000.00 statutory maximum and each animal or each day counted separately. Courts may also add up to 60 days in jail, up to 240 hours of community service, or up to $250.00 in mandatory training costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my dog have to be on a leash in unincorporated Bartow County?
Are cats required to be leashed in Bartow County?
Can I tether my dog to a stake in the yard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bartow County
Compare Bartow County to another location·View the Georgia animal ordinances overview
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