Dodge County, WI Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Dodge County Code § 9.174.042 (via § 9.01)
- 1st offense deposit
- $30.00 ($175.30 total)
- 2nd offense deposit
- $60.00 ($213.10 total)
- Dog license fee
- $3.00 altered / $8.00 unaltered
- Enforced by
- Dodge County Sheriff's Office
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Dodge County
Summary
Dodge County adopts Wisconsin's dogs-running-at-large and untagged-dog statute as county law under § 9.01, citing loose or untagged dogs in the unincorporated area at $30.00 for a first offense and $60.00 for a second, on top of the county's separate annual dog licensing fee.
9.01 - OFFENSES AGAINST STATE LAWS SUBJECT TO FORFEITURE. ... The statutes enumerated below and following the prefix "9" defining offenses against the peace and good order of the State are adopted by reference and made a part of this Chapter as if fully set forth in this Section, to define offenses against the peace and good order of the County. However, the penalty for commission of such offenses shall be limited to a forfeiture imposed under § 30.04 of this Code of Ordinances. ... 9.174.042 Dogs running at large; untagged dogs
Full Breakdown
042, Wis. , enforceable as a county peace-and-order offense. 04 rather than the state's own penalty. 10 total. 30 total schedule. 02, which require the license fee to accompany the application and the license to be displayed on request. 04 for any dog-at-large or licensing offense not otherwise specified. This framework applies in the unincorporated area of Dodge County, where Land Resources and Parks and the Sheriff's Office handle enforcement; cities, villages, and towns with their own dog ordinances govern their own limits separately.
Violations & Fines
A first citation under 9.174.042 carries a $30.00 deposit, $175.30 total with statutory fees; a second violation within the schedule's terms rises to a $60.00 deposit, $213.10 total. Failure to license a dog under 9.174.07 is cited separately at the same $30.00/$175.30 level. As with other Chapter 9 offenses, the penalty is limited to a forfeiture under § 30.04, and payment of the deposit is treated as a no-contest plea unless the person appears in court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a leash law in unincorporated Dodge County?
What's the fine for a dog running at large?
Do I still need to license my dog?
Who enforces the leash rule outside city and village limits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dodge County
Compare Dodge County to another location·View the Wisconsin animal ordinances overview
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