Franklin Township, PA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Chapter 2, Part 2 of the Franklin Township Code, adopted by Ordinance 2017-01 on February 15, 2017, is the Township's animal-control law and its only leash requirement; Franklin Township has no separate dog-licensing or kennel ordinance of its own, since licensing runs through the state Dog Law. Section 2-201 makes it unlawful for an owner, custodian or keeper to let any animal run at large at any time on Township streets, public property or parks, and separately unlawful to let an animal run at large or trespass on private property belonging to someone other than the owner, whether or not the animal is under immediate control.

The ordinance defines 'immediate control' precisely: the effective use of a leash, or a leash combined with a harness, halter, muzzle or similar device. A carve-out lets hunting dogs off leash when accompanying a duly licensed hunter during regular hunting season on property where hunting isn't otherwise prohibited. Under Section 2-202, any police officer, authorized dog control officer, or Franklin Township's contracted animal control agency who witnesses or learns of a loose or trespassing animal must seize it and take it to the Board of Supervisors' designated pound; the owner, once identified, is notified and can redeem the animal within the time the law allows, but must reimburse the Township for all costs the seizure generated within 60 days.

Section 2-204 exempts guide dogs for blind residents, hearing dogs for deaf residents, dogs used by people with disabilities, and police or state agency dogs on duty from the private-property immediate-control requirement.