Chatham County, NC Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

036(A) makes it unlawful for an owner or keeper of any animal to allow it to run at large off its own property. 001, defines RESTRAINT OFF OWNER'S PROPERTY as restriction or control of an animal's movement by a leash, bridle, or similar effective and humane device, under the direct control of a competent person, whenever the animal is off the owner's real property, which sets the practical leash standard officers use to judge compliance. 036(B), an Animal Services Officer who personally observes a dog off its owner's premises and not under that kind of restraint may impound it at the officer's discretion; under (C), when a neighbor instead files a complaint, the officer must investigate and, on finding probable cause, may issue a citation, a warning, or take any other action the chapter or state law allows.

036(D) makes clear that an animal running at large that also creates a nuisance, such as chasing pedestrians or damaging property, is a separate, additional violation on top of the at-large charge itself. 036 is a misdemeanor under (E), enforced by the Animal Services Division and Sheriff's deputies with general subject-matter jurisdiction in the unincorporated area.