Boulder, CO Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Section 6-1-16(a) bars a guardian or keeper from letting a dog off the premises unless it is on a leash held by a person, or inside a vehicle or similarly confined without access to passers-by. Subsection (b) layers on a leash mandate for any area the city manager has posted for wildlife protection, and Subsection (c) lets the manager close specific areas to dogs altogether to protect wildlife or natural resources. Boulder does allow off-leash access on designated open space and park land under a voice-and-sight-control system created by voter-approved Ordinance No.

5811 (1996), but a dog must be within voice and sight control of its guardian, wear a Voice and Sight Control Evidence Tag issued under Chapter 6-13, and the guardian must carry a leash ready to use without undue delay. That affirmative defense fails automatically if the guardian has more than two dogs off-leash at once. Penalties escalate under Subsection (d): a $100 maximum fine for a first conviction, up to $200 for a second conviction within two years, and a minimum fine of $300 for a third or later conviction within two years of the first violation.

The municipal court can also impose conditions tied to a suspended sentence, including mandatory training or evaluation of the dog, or suspension or permanent revocation of voice-and-sight-control privileges for violations occurring on city open space or park land. Section 6-1-30 separately authorizes a peace officer to destroy a dog observed running at large and menacing people, livestock, or wildlife if it poses a safety threat.