Adams County, CO Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Ordinance No. 6, effective February 25, 2022 under Resolution 2022-090, makes it unlawful for an owner or custodian of any animal to permit it to run, go, or be at large on any street or public place in the county, or on someone else's premises without that person's prior written permission. 'Running at large' means the animal is off its owner's property and not under a person's control. The only exception covers county-designated dog training areas and off-leash dog parks, where dogs may run off-leash subject to strict site rules: no entry after sunset or before sunrise, dogs must be leashed entering and leaving the fenced enclosure with a visible leash on hand at all times, a person at least 18 must accompany the dog, no more than two dogs per owner, prompt waste removal, and dogs that are dangerous, in heat, unvaccinated, ill, or lacking current vaccination and ID tags may not enter.

Anyone who enters an off-leash site assumes the risk of injury from other dogs or people and releases the county from liability. A vicious or dangerous animal at large faces a separate, higher penalty, and an owner convicted of violating the ordinance three or more times in any 12-month period commits a separate offense of Habitual Ordinance Violations.