Cass County, ND Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- County Leash Ordinance
- None
- Vicious Dog Statute
- NDCC Ch. 42-03
- At-Large/Livestock
- NDCC 36-14-01
- Animal Welfare
- NDCC 36-21.1
- Fargo City Leash
- 6 ft maximum off-property
- Sheriff Non-Emergency
- 701-241-5800
Summary
Cass County, ND does not have a countywide dog leash ordinance and does not operate an animal control department for unincorporated areas. The Cass County Sheriff's Office handles dog-at-large complaints under state law - primarily NDCC 42-03 (vicious dogs) and NDCC 36-21.1 (animal welfare). Owners are expected to keep dogs under control and on the owner's property. Cities within Cass County - Fargo, West Fargo, Horace, Casselton - have their own leash ordinances and animal control services that supersede this general rule within city limits.
42-03-01. When dogs are a public nuisance. Any dog that habitually molests a person traveling peaceably on the public road or street is a public nuisance. Upon written complaint to a district or municipal judge describing the dog, giving the name of the dog and the dog's owner if known, and, if not, so stating, and alleging that the dog is a public nuisance, the district or municipal judge shall give notice to the dog's owner that a complaint has been filed that the dog has been molesting certain persons and that the owner shall take the necessary action to prevent the dog from any further violations of this chapter.
Full Breakdown
Unincorporated Cass County has no leash ordinance: there is no county requirement that a dog be on a leash of a specified length, and there is no county license or registration program. 1 covers humane treatment of animals; and NDCC 36-14 makes it a class B misdemeanor to allow a dog to run at large and harass livestock, with the owner liable for damages. The Sheriff maintains an informal lost/found list rather than a shelter; injured or unclaimed strays are typically transported to Fargo's Homeward Animal Shelter or to Cass County Humane Society partner facilities.
Each Cass County city has adopted its own leash and licensing rules: Fargo Municipal Code Chapter 13 requires dogs to be on a leash of no more than 6 feet when off the owner's property and requires annual licensing; West Fargo and Horace have parallel ordinances. Townships under NDCC 58-03 may adopt their own animal control rules but most have not. Civil liability for dog bites in North Dakota follows a modified negligence rule - owners are not strictly liable, but knowledge of vicious propensities (the so-called 'one bite rule') creates liability under common law and NDCC 42-03.
Violations & Fines
Allowing a dog to run at large and worry livestock is a class B misdemeanor under NDCC 36-14-01, punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $1,500 fine, plus civil damages to the livestock owner. A dog declared vicious under NDCC 42-03 may be ordered impounded or destroyed, and the owner can face misdemeanor charges. Inside Cass County city limits, off-leash violations typically carry $50 to $250 municipal fines plus impound and licensing fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do dogs have to be on a leash in unincorporated Cass County, ND?
Who handles loose dog complaints in Cass County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cass County
Compare Cass County to another location·View the North Dakota animal ordinances overview
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