Fayette County, GA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing sections
- §§ 6-19, 6-22, 6-23, 6-24
- Restraint defined
- Leash/lead, fence, or attended handler
- 1st offense fine
- $25.00 minimum, up to 30 days jail
- 2nd offense fine
- $250.00 minimum, up to 60 days jail
- Enforced by
- Animal shelter director, § 6-25
Summary
Fayette County Code § 6-22 makes it unlawful for an owner to let any animal run at large, unattended, on county streets or another person's property without consent. Section 6-19 defines an animal as under restraint only when it's on a leash or lead, fenced in, or under a competent handler's direct control. A first at-large violation under § 6-26(b) draws at least a $25.00 fine.
Animal under restraint means any animal secured by a leash or lead; or enclosed by way of fence or other enclosure; or under the control of a responsible and competent person and obedient to that person's commands, and the person being present with the animal; or the animal confined within a vehicle, parked or in motion. ... It shall be unlawful for the owner of any animal to allow it to run at large unattended on or about the streets and highways of the unincorporated limits of the county or on the property of another without such property owner's consent. Any such animal at large shall be impounded by the director or his authorized representative as hereinafter provided. ... For the first time an owner of a dog, cat or other animal is found in violation of section 6-22, 6-23 or 6-24, regardless of whether or not the animal is picked up and impounded by an animal shelter officer, a minimum fine of $25.00 and/or imprisonment in jail for a period not to exceed 30 days, or both, shall be imposed against such person.
Full Breakdown
The restraint standard is set by definition in § 6-19: an animal is "under restraint" only when secured by a leash or lead, enclosed by a fence or other enclosure, under the control of a competent, present handler whose commands it obeys, or confined in a parked or moving vehicle. Anything else counts as "at large," and § 6-22 bans letting an animal run at large unattended on county streets and highways or on someone else's property without that owner's consent; an animal caught at large can be impounded on the spot.
limit on how long an animal can stay tied to it. Section 6-24 covers restraint off the owner's property and specifically requires any animal riding in the back of an open pickup truck or a convertible to be leashed so it can't jump out. The director enforces all three sections under § 6-25, and § 6-26(b)-(c) escalates the fine with each repeat violation, alongside a mandatory spay/neuter requirement after a second offense.
Violations & Fines
A first at-large or restraint violation under §§ 6-22, 6-23 or 6-24 costs a minimum $25.00 fine and up to 30 days in jail under § 6-26(b). A second violation jumps to a minimum $250.00 fine and up to 60 days, and every subsequent offense carries a minimum $500.00 fine and up to 60 days, with the animal's owner also facing mandatory spay or neuter after the second offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Fayette County require dogs to be on a leash?
What if my dog is in my own fenced yard?
What's the fine for a leash-law violation in Fayette County?
Can I carry my dog loose in the back of my pickup truck?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fayette County
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