Fort Collins, CO Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)
Key Facts
- Requirement
- All pets except birds restrained
- "At large" includes
- Tethering within reach of street
- Exceptions
- Dog parks, natural-area permits, police animals
- Pet birds
- Only "physical control" required
- Females in heat
- Must be confined
- Penalty
- Civil infraction, up to $2,650
Summary
Fort Collins requires every pet animal except birds to be kept under restraint at all times, and it is unlawful for an owner to let one run at large in the City under Municipal Code § 4-93. Exceptions cover posted dog parks, police animals and permitted natural-area off-leash zones.
All pet animals, except birds, shall be kept under restraint. It shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper of any pet animal, except birds, to permit such animal to be at large in the City, with or without the owner or keeper's knowledge. The following shall be exempt from this prohibition: (1) Animals under the control of a public law enforcement agency. (2) Animals not under restraint in a City natural area or recreation area pursuant to an applicable permit issued under Article IX or Article X of Chapter 23. (3) Animals under the control of City employees or contractors when used for maintenance or management activities in City recreation areas, as defined in § 23-202. (4) Animals in areas designated or signed permitting animals to be at large, such as dog parks.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 155 | Transitional Land Use Code (for project before May 17, 2024): Supplement 61 | Traffic Code: Supplement 27).
Full Breakdown
Section 4-93(a) states: "All pet animals, except birds, shall be kept under restraint. " The Code defines "restraint" in § 4-1 as being on a leash under a responsible person's control, tethered away from public access points, or confined by a secure fence, and "at large" as outside such confinement and not on a leash; a dog tethered within reach of a sidewalk or street still counts as at large. Section 4-93(a) carves out four exceptions: animals under a law enforcement agency's control; animals off-restraint in a City natural or recreation area under a permit issued through Chapter 23, Articles IX or X; animals under City employees' or contractors' control doing maintenance work; and animals in areas signed to allow them at large, such as designated dog parks.
Subsection (b) covers pet birds separately, requiring only that the owner keep "physical control" sufficient to prevent the bird from threatening people or property, without requiring a leash. Subsection (c) requires any female animal in heat to be confined indoors or fenced so it cannot reach a male except for planned breeding, and to be supervised outdoors. "
Violations & Fines
Section 4-93 is not on the § 4-196 misdemeanor list, so an animal-at-large citation is a civil infraction under § 1-15(e), carrying a fine of up to $2,650 plus costs, and each day the animal is loose can be charged separately. An animal control officer who impounds a loose pet may also assess impound fees under § 4-140 before the owner can reclaim it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Fort Collins require dogs to be on a leash?
Are there any places dogs can legally be off-leash?
What if my dog is tethered in my own yard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Collins
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