Boone County, MO Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Urban Service Areas
- Leash or trained command required
- Near Schools
- Leashed within 500 ft countywide
- Vicious Dog Leash
- 4 ft max, muzzled (Sec. 2.4.2.2.5)
- Nuisance Dog Leash
- 6 ft max
- Animal Control
- (573) 449-1888
Summary
Boone County Animal Control Regulations (Chapter II) require dogs to be leashed or under immediate trained-command control in designated Urban Service Areas (Sec. 2.4.4) and within 500 feet of any school building (Sec. 2.4.5). Outside Urban Service Areas, no general leash mandate applies, but vicious and nuisance dogs are tightly regulated.
2.4.4 Confinement and Control of Dogs in Urban Service Areas - It shall be unlawful for any dog to be unconfined or unrestrained within an urban service area, or for any person who owns or possesses a dog to permit such dog to be within an urban service area unconfined or unrestrained, unless such dog is on real estate owned or lawfully possessed by such owner or possessor, or such dog is on real estate owned or lawfully possessed by another person who has expressly consented to the presence of such dog, or such dog is in a motor vehicle being driven or parked upon a public road, or such dog is engaged with its owner or possessor in hunting or training, or such dog is under the immediate control of its owner or possessor by means of a leash or trained command.
Full Breakdown
Section 2.4.4 makes it unlawful for any dog to be unconfined or unrestrained within an Urban Service Area unless on the owner's property, in a vehicle, hunting/training, or under immediate control by leash or trained command. Urban Service Areas are listed in the appendix and include platted residential subdivisions of 25+ developed lots, mobile home parks, and specific townships/sections near Columbia, Ashland, Centralia, Hallsville, Harrisburg, Hartsburg, Rocheport, and Sturgeon. Section 2.4.5 extends the leash/control requirement to within 500 feet of any school building countywide. Section 2.4.7 prohibits owners from permitting dogs to bite or attack people or domesticated animals. Vicious dogs (2.4.2.2.5) must be muzzled and leashed (4 ft max, 300 lb tensile) when outside their kennel; nuisance dogs require a 6 ft max leash. Authority: RSMo §192.300 and §§322.090–.130. Enforcement: City of Columbia/Boone County Animal Control under contract with the Health Department, (573) 449-1888.
Violations & Fines
Violations are misdemeanors. Vicious or nuisance dog violations can result in impoundment, mandatory microchipping, annual permit requirements, and humane destruction orders. Dogs that bite are impounded for 10-day rabies observation (Sec. 2.7.5).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a leash law in unincorporated Boone County?
What happens if my dog is declared vicious or a nuisance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Boone County
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