Fulton County, GA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

The leash duty falls on the owner, custodian, or harborer of the dog, so a sitter or anyone else keeping the animal is bound the same as its owner. Off the premises, control means being securely under leash, with the leash capped at six feet; a retractable leash qualifies only if it locks at 6 ft or less when extended. The running-at-large prohibition applies in two territories: throughout the unincorporated area of Fulton County, and within any municipality in the county which has or may enter into an agreement with Fulton County for animal control services.

On the owner's own premises the leash is not required, but the dog must still be confined by fence, wall, or leash rather than left loose to roam off the property. Section 34-205(d) closes the tethering loophole: a tether cannot serve as a dog's primary restraint, and a dog may be tethered only while actively attended. The ordinance carves out exceptions for obedience training, hunting with a valid license in AG zones, and law enforcement dogs. Repeat trouble carries its own consequence, since continued violations can end with the dog formally declared a public nuisance.