Montgomery County, OH Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Ohio's primary dog statute is R.C. Chapter 955, administered locally through the Montgomery County Auditor (license sales) and the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center (enforcement and impoundment). R.C. 955.01 requires every dog over three months of age to be registered annually; licenses run on a calendar year and must be renewed by January 31. R.C. 955.10 requires licensed dogs to wear the metal license tag. R.C. 955.22(C) is the operative leash/control statute: no owner, keeper, or harborer of any dog shall fail at any time to keep it physically confined or restrained upon the premises by a leash, tether, adequate fence, supervision, or secure enclosure, or, when off the premises, under reasonable control by a leash, tether, or other restraint. R.C. 955.11 defines a 'dangerous,' 'nuisance,' or 'vicious' dog and requires written designation, special tags, microchipping, liability insurance for vicious dogs, and stricter confinement. The Montgomery County Animal Resource Center is the county dog warden's office and impounds at-large dogs; reclaim fees, daily boarding charges, and license-purchase requirements apply at pickup. The City of Dayton supplements state law in Chapter 91 of its Revised Code of General Ordinances, prohibiting dogs from running at large on any street, park, or public ground, requiring all dogs and cats over four months of age to wear current rabies and registration tags, and limiting overnight kenneling to no more than three dogs per residence. Other Montgomery County cities (Kettering, Centerville, Oakwood, Huber Heights) operate similar leash chapters; rules apply countywide because R.C. 955 is state law.