Clark County, IN Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 91.36 (definition § 91.35)
- Rule
- Restraint required at all times
- Working dog exception
- Lead, guard, farm, hunting dogs
- Fine range
- $25 to $1,000
- Redemption fee (neutered)
- $5
- Redemption fee (intact, 1st)
- $15
Summary
Section 91.36 requires every dog and cat in Clark County to be kept under restraint at all times, defined by Section 91.35 as not being allowed to run at large on public property or on private property other than the owner's, though trained working dogs are excused from leashing under reasonable control.
§ 91.36 RESTRAINT. All dogs/cats in the county shall be kept under restraint at all times. ... RESTRAINT. A dog/cat shall be deemed to be under RESTRAINT if its owner or person in charge of it does not cause or allow it to run at large upon any public place or upon any private property, other than the owner's; however, working dogs, such as lead dogs, guard dogs, farm dogs, hunting dogs and other similar dogs/cats that are trained need not be leashed when under the reasonable control of its owner.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2019 S-0: Code: Local legislation current through Ordinance 31-2014, passed 12-18-2014).
Full Breakdown
36, part of the county's Control of Dogs and Cats subchapter, states plainly that all dogs and cats in the county shall be kept under restraint at all times. 35 defines RESTRAINT to mean the owner or person in charge does not cause or allow the animal to run at large on any public place or on private property other than the owner's; it carves out working dogs, such as lead dogs, guard dogs, farm dogs and hunting dogs, which need not be leashed when under the reasonable control of their owner.
38 lets the officer issue a citation to the owner instead of or in addition to impounding. 37(C) costs $5 for a neutered or spayed animal, $15 for the first redemption of an unspayed or non-neutered animal, and $25 for each later redemption of the same animal, plus a $3 daily quarantine charge and proof of rabies vaccination and a current license before release.
Violations & Fines
Section 91.99(D) sets the penalty for any violation of Sections 91.35 through 91.43, including the restraint requirement, at a fine of not less than $25 and not more than $1,000 upon conviction. Owners also face impoundment of the animal and the redemption fees fixed by Section 91.37, on top of any court-ordered fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Must I keep my dog leashed in Clark County?
What happens if my dog is picked up unrestrained?
How much is the fine for violating the restraint rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Clark County
Compare Clark County to another location·View the Indiana animal ordinances overview
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