Erie's Codified Ordinances Article 505 (Animals and Fowl) prohibits dogs from running at large within the City of Erie — dogs off the owner's property must be on a leash and under control. State-level licensing is administered by the Erie County Treasurer under the Pennsylvania Dog Law at 3 P.S. Section 459-101 et seq., which requires every dog three months or older to be licensed annually. Erie's contracted animal-control authority responds to off-leash and at-large complaints.
Erie's local leash rule sits in Article 505 of the Codified Ordinances at https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/erie/, which prohibits dogs from running at large and contains general restraint and nuisance provisions enforced by the Erie Bureau of Animal Enforcement. Tethering of unattended dogs is also governed by the Pennsylvania state floor under Libre's Law amendments at 18 Pa.C.S. Section 5533, which sets limits on tether duration, anchor type, collar standards, and weather conditions — Erie applies the state floor and can stack stricter local nuisance citations where conditions worsen. The Pennsylvania Dog Law at 3 P.S. Section 459-101 et seq. (https://www.animallaw.info/statute/pa-dog-law-chapter-8-dogs-consolidated-dog-laws) requires every dog three months or older to be licensed annually by January 1 through the county treasurer; in Erie that is the Erie County Treasurer at 140 West 6th Street, Erie PA 16501 (https://eriecountypa.gov/departments/treasurer/dog-licenses/). Standard PA dog license fees are $8.50/year spayed-neutered and $10.50/year intact, with senior and disabled discounts and a $51.50 lifetime option for microchipped dogs. Erie contracts with the Anna M. Shelter Center and the Erie Humane Society for sheltering and stray response; loose-dog complaints inside the City go through the Erie Bureau of Animal Enforcement and the Erie Police non-emergency line at 814-870-1125.
Off-leash and at-large violations under Article 505 are summary offenses enforced by Erie Police and the Bureau of Animal Enforcement. Fines under the General Offenses Code typically run $100 to $300 first offense plus impoundment, sheltering, and reclaim fees if the dog is picked up. Failing to license a dog violates 3 P.S. Section 459-201 with a separate penalty of up to $300 per day under the Pennsylvania Dog Law. Repeat off-leash incidents that result in bites can trigger dangerous-dog proceedings under 3 P.S. Section 459-502-A in the Court of Common Pleas of Erie County.
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See how Erie's dog leash laws rules stack up against other locations.
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