Bethlehem requires dogs to be on a leash no longer than 6 feet whenever off the owner's property. Dogs running at large are subject to capture and impoundment, and owners must immediately remove and dispose of dog waste in public spaces. The leash law mirrors PA Dog Law §459-305 confinement requirements, and licensing through Lehigh or Northampton County is mandatory for all dogs 3 months and older.
Bethlehem Codified Ordinances Article 505 governs dogs and other animals citywide. Section 505.03 requires every dog off the owner's premises to be on a leash no longer than six (6) feet and under the control of a person able to restrain it. Dogs running at large are subject to capture by the Bethlehem Animal Control Officer and impoundment at the Center for Animal Health and Welfare in Easton; redemption fees apply. Section 505.05 (pooper-scooper) requires owners to carry a means of cleanup and to immediately remove any dog feces deposited on public property or another person's property. Dogs are prohibited entirely from city playgrounds and athletic fields. The ordinance works in tandem with the PA Dog Law (3 P.S. §459-101 et seq.), which mandates confinement (§459-305), annual county licensing for all dogs 3 months and older (§459-201), and rabies vaccination. Dangerous dog determinations follow §459-502-A and are behavior-based (no breed-specific legislation in Bethlehem).
Leash-law violations under Article 505 carry fines of $50 (first offense), $150 (second), and up to $300 (third or more) within a 12-month period. Failure to clean up dog waste is a $100 fine. Failure to license is a separate PA Dog Law violation carrying a $300 maximum. Impoundment fees plus daily boarding apply if your dog is captured.
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