Durham County Code Sec. 4-86 requires dogs to be leashed off the owner's property. A tethering ordinance requires at least a 10-foot tether with swivels and prohibits unsupervised tethering.
Under Durham County Code Sec. 4-86, it is unlawful for any person owning, keeping, possessing, or maintaining a dog to intentionally or negligently allow the dog to run at large. Dogs must be on a leash or under direct physical control when away from the owner's property. The tethering ordinance requires that tethers be at least 10 feet long with swivels on both ends if using a chain (which must not exceed 10% of the dogs body weight), or made of rope, twine, cord, or similar material with a swivel on one end. Collars or harnesses used for tethering must be nylon or leather. Unsupervised tethering in an open yard is unlawful. Durham County Animal Services enforces these provisions through its Healthy Animal Initiative, which offers pet owners a chance to comply in a non-punitive way. Dogs found at large may be impounded by Animal Services.
Violations of the leash law or tethering ordinance may result in citations and fines. Dogs found at large may be impounded by Durham County Animal Services. Repeat offenders face escalating penalties. The Healthy Animal Initiative provides first-time offenders an opportunity for non-punitive compliance before formal enforcement action.
Durham, NC
Durham caps daytime sound at 60 dBA (8 AM to 11 PM) and nighttime sound at 50 dBA (11 PM to 8 AM) under Ch. 26, Sec. 26-23. Measured at property line using A...
Durham, NC
Durham UDO Section 9.9 limits residential fences to 4 feet in front yards and 8 feet in side and rear yards. Corner lots face additional restrictions along s...
Durham, NC
Durham does not require a permit for most residential fences or walls. Permits are required for retaining walls, pool barriers on single-family parcels, prop...
Durham, NC
Durham UDO Section 9.9 sets general fence standards including setbacks, orientation, and vision-clearance rules. Fences between structures and streets within...
Durham, NC
Durham requires a building permit for all retaining walls. Retaining walls over 4 feet at street frontage must be terraced in Design Districts. Walls over 8 ...
Durham, NC
Durham UDO 9.9 prohibits razor wire, concertina wire, and barbed wire in residential districts. Uncoated chain link is banned in CI and Design Districts.
See how Durham's dog leash laws rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.