Cecil County, MD Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Section 142-20 of the Code of Cecil County requires dogs to be kept "under restraint or effective control at all times," restrained by a leash, chain, kennel or fence, with a narrow exception for supervised hunting or activities where restraint could endanger the animal. Subsection C separately requires the owner of any animal other than a cat to keep it from leaving the owner's property unattended or unrestrained, meaning the leash duty applies broadly to dogs but not to cats. An owner who uses fencing must keep it appropriate to the animal and well maintained, and an invisible electric fence may be used only if it consistently and effectively restrains the dog; no dog that has been declared vicious or dangerous may be restrained behind an invisible fence at all.

If a dog at large attacks another animal or person and causes injury documented by a veterinarian or physician, or causes property damage, the owner faces the fines set in Subsection G. An Animal Care and Control Officer or law enforcement officer may either impound an at-large dog or issue the owner a citation instead; an unpaid citation is forwarded to the Cecil County District Court after 20 days, and a repeat impoundment within 12 months doubles the impoundment fee under §142-7F.